Factsheet - Production of protein crops under climate change
- Innovation, knowledge exchange & EIP-AGRI
- Agricultural Production
- Climate and Climate Change
- Sustainability
This factsheet presents at a glance the main outcomes of the EU CAP Network Focus Group 'Production of protein crops under climate change'.
- Programming period: 2023-2027
- Sectorial impacts
The EU CAP Network Focus Group ‘Production of protein crops under climate change’ focused on the central question: ‘how to increase European plant protein self-sufficiency by integrating the sustainable production of plant-based protein in different value chains and regions, taking climate change into account’.
Protein crops have received increasing interest for feed, food, soil health and climate resilience. However, their adoption remains limited due to agronomic and economic constrains. Climate change adds further challenges. A Focus Group of 20 experts discussed how to increase the European production of protein crops under climate change.
Their key findings were:
- building diverse value chains: Value chains range from direct marketing to industrial processing, all of which can contribute to higher protein crop production.
- support farmers’ choice of protein crop: As climatic conditions shift, protein crops cultivated in one region may perform well in other regions.
- generating environmental benefits: Protein crops improve soil health and make farming more resilient to climate extremes. Practices such as mixed cropping and improved water retention methods can strengthen these benefits. For these measures to gain wider implementation, their advantages must be recognised and rewarded.
- developing value chains collaboratively: Producer groups, cooperatives, and regional branding can motivate and support innovative solutions for protein crop processing and marketing.
- improving access to infrastructure: Shared processing and storage equipment, particularly at the local level, reduces costs.
- exchanging knowledge: peer-to-peer learning, farmer groups, demonstration farms, and advisory services help identify problems, reduce uncertainties, and co-develop solutions.
- improving choice and development of varieties: Farmers need better access to seeds and information on protein crop species and their varieties. At the same time, breeding efforts should focus on traits relevant for processing and adaptation to changing climatic conditions.
Read more in the factsheet.
Author(s)
EU CAP Network
