Legume-supported cropping systems for Europe

Novel feed and non-food uses

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8.4.2016 - Book

17.3.2015 - ZALF

30.05.2013 - Brussels

3.04.2013 Berlin

29.01.2013 - Parliament

19.09.2012 - CAP reform

14.06.2012 - Strategies

28.03.2012 - Athens

30.06.2011 - Brussels

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Research plan

Research objectives

Research outputs

WP 1: Case studies

WP 2: Data management

WP 3: Environment

WP 4: Socio-economics

WP 5: Impact

WP 6: Biophysical models

Partners

SRUC

University of Helsinki

James Hutton Institute

Trinity College Dublin

ZALF

Donal Murphy-Bokern

Aarhus University

AU Athens

IUNG-PIB

CIRAD

MTT

SLU

UCO

vTI

UDM

NARDI

WUR

Teagasc

IFVNS

UNS

Consultation responses

Results

Research protocols

Agronomic case studies

Novel uses

Agronomic analysis

BNF in Europe

Agricultural effects

Environmental effects

Environmental policy

System generation

Farm level effects

GHG costs

Policy scenarios

SCBA

Research outlook

Policy briefings

Publications

Presentations

30.11.2011 - CAP

29.05.2012 - Rotations

20.10.2014 - Overview

1.12.2014 - Crotalaria

7.5.2015 - EU research

7.5.2015 - Protein Policy

Posters

Soil remediation

Grazing emissions

Legume-barley intercrops

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Impressum/Imprint

Legumes' capacity for nitrogen fixation has several impacts.  Legumes can grow in nitrogen deficient soils and at the same time produce protein-rich plant material, particularly protein rich seeds.  This high protein content and production, which is intrinsic to legumes, determines much of the role of legumes not only in general human and animal nutrition, but also their suitability for novel feed uses and uses in the non-food sector. 
 
Biological nitrogen fixation is a characteristic of pioneer plants and so gives rise to another potential use of legumes in the bioremediation or colonization of soils otherwise unsuited for agriculture.  Legumes are also, compared with cereals, rich in a range of secondary plant compounds.  Legumes have evolved mechanisms to produce and concentrate these compounds to protect against pest and disease attack.  The bioactivity of these compounds opens up non-food opportunities which are specific to legumes.  
 
This report also looks at non-traditional feed uses, such as whole-crop silage and fish feeds, examines some industrial uses of legumes in the bio-based economy, and concludes with a catalogue of recent demonstrations of the activities of bioactive compounds derived from legumes.  A comprehensive gathering of such data would require hundreds of pages and thousands of references, and this document is intended to introduce the reader to the literature and present some of the more interesting highlights that are relevant in the context of European agriculture.

 
Novel feed and non-food uses of legumes