Conveners
Diversification in crop production
- Aurélie Metay
- Mareike Beiküfner
Context description and research question: Ensuring healthy diets from sustainable food systems is an immediate challenge (Willett et al., 2019). On the one hand, there is an urgent need to limit the environmental impact of production systems while increasing their resilience in the face of climate change. On the other hand, consumer health is also an important point to consider when analyzing...
Intercropping consists of growing two or more crop species simultaneously on the same field [1]. Cereal-legume intercrops are a particularly beneficial association, with benefits in controlling the spread of diseases, insects and weeds [2], which can reduce chemical inputs use [3] while improving protein content and yields [4]. Despite all those benefits, cereal-legume intercrops are not...
- Introduction:
European agriculture is specialized in cereal production, presenting agronomic and environmental risks, and increasing the dependence on imported high-value protein (Watson et al., 2017). For instance, rainfed and irrigated Mediterranean agriculture is highly based on continuous winter cereals and maize (Zea mays L.), respectively. The objectives were to i) redesign and...
Legume-based mixed cropping systems play a crucial role in maintaining crop productivity while reducing reliance on inorganic nitrogen inputs and enhancing resilience under climate change.
Our research provides valuable insights into the long-term economic and ecological implications of adopting specific legume-based crop rotation systems, thus empowering growers to make informed decisions...
The growing interest in locally produced plant-based proteins calls for an increased European production of minor grain legumes, including chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). However, the European agricultural area dedicated to pulses is less than 3% of the total arable land. The scarce cultivation of grain legumes is due to multiple factors, among them the low yields coupled with yield...
Plant proteins are part of the new generation of proteins for the green transition towards a neutral European continent in 2050. The cultivation of protein crops reduces the climate footprint, diversifies production systems and enhances human nutrition. Hence, the SMART PROTEIN EU project has targeted four species to develop sustainable protein supply chains for the future: fava beans,...
