Fresh grain legumes for human consumption

GrainLegsGo aims at increasing the cropping of fresh grain legumes
(GLs) for human consumption, while providing environmental and
climate benefits and promoting circular bioeconomy. We propose to
develop novel GLs-based cropping systems with harvest of fresh GLs
for human consumption and early establishment of cover crops (CC),
which improve the sustainability and climate impacts of GLs-based
cropping systems, and allow potential biorefining of green crop
residues. Such optimization of GLs cropping will reduce the reliance on
external inputs and minimize negative environmental impacts, including
greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions, while providing additional
ecosystem benefits. Through a co-creative and participatory approach,
stakeholders will be involved to exchange knowledge related to
cropping of GLs, nutritional aspects of GL consumption and
environmental impacts, thus to identify innovative practices for
achieving higher production and human consumption of GLs in
Denmark. The participatory approach will stimulate the transformation
of agriculture and food systems from animal-based food to protein-rich
crops. Overall, the GrainLegsGo project will facilitate an increase in the
organic area for cultivation of GLs to 14% by 2030 in Denmark. This will
increase the total sale of locally produced GL products benefiting both
farmers and food-value chain actors, while reducing the input of N
(7204 Mg N yr-1), P (1801 Mg P yr-1), and GHG emissions (60641 Mg
CO2 eq yr-1).