Boosting the competitiveness of protein crops in Europe

Expected Outcome:Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:the competitive production of protein crops is boosted across Europe, by developing and testing sustainable and cost-effective innovations tailored to different farming systems, regions and contexts;farmers profitability is boosted via the integration of protein crops into diversified farming systems, the development of local value chains and the valorisation of protein crops’ by-products;plant-based proteins production in Europe is increased, contributing to greater economical and environmental sustainability (including agrobiodiversity) and strengthening the European food and feed autonomy. Scope:Protein crops[1] can play a key role in advancing sustainable and resilient European agriculture offering environmental, agronomic, economic and nutritional benefits. Despite their potential, the production and use of protein crops in Europe remains limited and require targeted efforts to scale up. Several barriers continue to hinder their development, including the lack of adapted local protein crops for the different European environmental conditions, the limited availability of effective and safe pest management practices and tools, the inadequacy of the machinery used in their production, poor infrastructure for processing and marketing, the absence of well-established local value chains, etc. A key element for a wide adoption of protein crops by farmers is demonstrating their potential benefits (economic competitiveness, environmental impacts, social engagement, adaptability) that enhance their market value and appeal.Proposals should:develop innovative solutions tailored to different conditions across the EU (agro-climatic, edaphic, socio-economic), to address key challenges hindering the inclusion of protein crops into diverse cropping systems. This should be done at farm level (addressing for instance yield, quality, resource optimization and resilience of protein