Press article
INA VAN HOYE
11 JUNE 2015
Press article 500 words
Growing protein crops has a profitable future
Involving the entire value chain is key
Protein crops such as soybean, faba bean, peas, lupins, alfalfa and clover have a huge
potential for farmers. However, there are several reasons why farmers may be hesitant to
grow them: the quality of the yield varies depending on the region and weather
conditions and so does the financial return. Chris de Visser, University Wageningen:
“Sharing knowledge on the use of varieties and best practices, even worst practices, are
key to success. Research can support increasing yield and competitiveness. The whole
value chain needs to work together on this.”
This was an important conclusion of the EIP-AGRI Focus Group on Protein Crops. Chris, also
coordinating expert of the EIP-AGRI Focus Group: “Farmers, feed industry, food industry, breeding
industry, NGOs and researchers need to work on this.” And so the European Commission gathered 56
European representatives from all these sectors at the EIP-AGRI Workshop “How to make protein
crops profitable in the EU?” in Budapest, Hungary in November 2014.
The feed industry stressed that the ingredients sold to their customers need to have the desired
quality to comply with nutritional needs. Soybean sets a very high standard in a heavily competitive
industry with low margins. Alternatives need to live up to this standard at competitive prices. The food
and feed industry is also confronted with reducing margins due to dropping prices. Both industries are
looking for high quality protein concentrates to develop new products. For farmers the financial return
is important while rotational effects and incentives also contribute to farmers' decisions to grow
protein crops. Chris de Visser: “Solutions will differ according to the perspective that is taken, either
from the food, feed industry or from the farming sector. Equally, diverse agro-climatic and soil
conditions in Europe largely determine which legume crops are most easily adopted.”
Direct funding for farmers to explore innovative ideas
With the Member States’ and regions’ new Rural Development Programmes approved, farmers will
have the opportunity to receive direct support to develop innovative projects through Operational
Groups. These Operational groups could be an important instrument to speed up the learning curve,
e.g. on cropping systems or variety choice. Operational Groups offer the possibility to work with
organisations all along the value chain. Exchange between the different regions across Europe will
also contribute to increasing the profitability of EU protein crops.
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PRESS ARTICLE: PROTEIN CROPS 11 JUNE 2015
Press article 250 words
Growing protein crops has a profitable future
Involving the entire value chain is key
Protein crops such as soybean, peas, and clover have a huge potential for farmers.
However, there are several reasons why farmers may be hesitant to grow them: the
quality of the yield varies and so does the financial return. Chris de Visser, University
Wageningen: “Sharing knowledge on the use of varieties and daily experience are key to
success. Research can support increasing yield and competitiveness. The whole value
chain needs to work together on this.”
The European Commission gathered 56 European representatives from farmers, feed industry, food
industry, breeding industry, NGOs and researchers at the EIP-AGRI Workshop “How to make protein
crops profitable in the EU?” in Budapest, Hungary in November 2014.
The feed industry stressed that the ingredients sold to their customers need to have the desired
quality to comply with nutritional needs. For farmers the financial return is important while rotational
effects and incentives also contribute to farmers' decisions to grow protein crops. Chris de Visser:
“Solutions will differ according to the perspective that is taken, either from the food, feed industry or
from the farming sector.”
Direct funding for farmers to explore innovative ideas
With the new Rural Development Programmes approved, farmers will have the opportunity to receive
direct support to develop innovative projects through Operational Groups. They could be an important
instrument to speed up the learning curve on cropping systems or variety choice. Operational Groups
will offer the possibility for organisations across the value chain to work together.
2
PRESS ARTICLE: PROTEIN CROPS 11 JUNE 2015
Background information
EIP-AGRI
The European Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability' (EIP-AGRI) is one of
five EIPs which were launched by the European Commission to promote rapid
modernisation of the sectors concerned, by stepping up innovation efforts. The EIP-AGRI aims to
foster innovation in the agricultural and forestry sectors by bringing research and practice closer
together – in research and innovation projects as well as via the EIP-AGRI Network.
EIPs aim to streamline, simplify and better coordinate existing instruments and initiatives and
complement them with actions where necessary. Two specific funding sources are particularly
important for the EIP-AGRI: the EU Research and Innovation framework, Horizon 2020, as well as the
EU Rural Development Policy.
www.eip-agri.eu
EIP-AGRI Focus Group Protein Crops
The EIP-AGRI Focus Group (FG) on protein crops was launched by the European Commission in 2013to identify
innovative approaches to making EU protein crop production more competitive. The final report of this Focus
Group is available here.
An EIP AGRI Focus Group is one of the building blocks of the EIP-AGRI network, which is funded under the EU
Rural Development policy. Working on a narrowly defined issue, Focus Groups temporarily bring together 20
experts (such as farmers, advisers, researchers, up- and downstream businesses and NGOs) to map and develop
solutions within their field
EIP-AGRI Workshop 'How to make protein crops profitable in the EU?'
The European Commission Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development invited key players from
different EU countries to attend this workshop in Budapest, Hungary: producers, researchers, food and feed
industry, governments, NGOs and farmers. Participants discussed what they could do to make protein crops more
profitable, based on ideas developed by the Focus Group on Protein Crops. Interactive sessions brought together
people from the whole value chain, allowing them to explore how they could cooperate toward achieving this
goal.
More information on the workshop on the event webpage.
Download the EIP-AGRI workshop report
Operational Groups
An Operational Group is a group of people who come together to work on concrete solutions to a practical
problem or innovative opportunity and whose project is funded by the EU Rural Development policy. An
Operational Group consists of several partners with a common interest in a specific, practical innovation project.
The people involved in the Operational Group should bring in different types of practical, and where necessary,
scientific expertise. They may include farmers, scientists, agri-business and many others. Every country or region
has the possibility to define specific national demands or restrictions on how to put together an Operational
Group.
EIP-AGRI Brochure on Operational Groups: Turning your idea into innovation
A list of all Managing Authorities can be found in the EIP-AGRI Brochure, to contact your local authority for
further information.
Other EIP-AGRI Brochures
EIP-AGRI Network
EIP-AGRI Service Point. How can we help you?
Innovation support services
EU funding opportunities related to innovation in agriculture, food and forestry
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