Periodic Reporting for period 3 - LEGVALUE (Fostering sustainable legume-based farming systems and agri-feed and food chains in the EU)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-06-01 bis 2021-05-31
Current cropping systems, with and without legumes, were analysed and described, based on statistical data and expert knowledge. By using pieces of these cropping systems, scenarios of development of legumes were built with stakeholders, in 4 global socio-economic contexts, and assessed with common indicators, showing that the production of crude protein was not improved but was maintained with far lower use of N fertilizer and energy, showing the efficiency of the legume-based cropping systems.
LegValue observed various ways of organising value chains with legumes, and production contracts appear to be a way to sustain commitment between stakeholders, particularly for emergent outlets in food or feed with quality assets. LegValue helps to think about the stakeholder’s strategies to develop legumes, thanks to the analysis of the current potential of legumes for food and the food innovation on markets, as well as the quality parameters used for legumes and their compatibility between European countries.
The analyses of the existing legume markets heterogeneity from a marketing perspective allow defining the conditions that can facilitate the creation of a European legume market. LegValue has identified local and regional levers in the development of legumes and the potential of foreign trade of legumes in the EU. The influence of some stakeholders in this market, especially processors was highlighted. Furthermore, price determinants, price indicators, and market information scenarios to facilitate or support the decision of the actors have been produced.
Best practices and perspective improvements in policy instruments towards increasing the production of legumes in Europe were identified based on information and input from a series of national and EU level workshops, and on an in-depth analysis of a large body of documentation.
LegValue produced transition pathways in the four defined future scenarios using building blocks (interventions and incentives) that differed in timing and choice between the four diverging futures. The increase in legume production seems possible in any of the four future scenarios.
During the webinar series organized jointly with the TRUE project in April and May 2021, the launching of the LIN (Legume Innovation Network) brings the opportunity to connect innovators throughout the value chain with the common interests of developing the legume market for long lasting effect. All the project’s results are available here: http://www.legvalue.eu/
LegValue allows a better understanding of the policy mix governing legume crops and how this can be improved: a) improvement of individual instruments; b) better coordination among instruments and policy areas (e.g. nutrition, environment, and agriculture). Results have already been fed into the policy process through the large effort in participatory activities (over 20 workshops) and are expected to be of high interest in the short term in connection to the country development of national strategic plans.
In each of the four diverging future scenarios, transition pathways lead to increased legume production if provided interventions are carefully timed and chosen. This shows that the increase of legumes in the EU is a policy choice that is robust in diverging socio-economic contexts in the different member states.