Legume Futures is an international research project financed by the EU Framework Programme 7. The full title of the project is ‘Legume-supported cropping systems for Europe’. The aim is to develop the use of legumes in cropping systems to improve the economic and environmental performance of European agriculture. The project will deliver cropping plans for European agricultural regions with local economic assessment of cropping systems. It will also assess the environmental impact of relevant farming system changes. This is focused on greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen budgets, biodiversity and soil function.
Legumes play a very special role in crop rotations, livestock feeding, and in our diets. They include important protein-rich crops such as peas and beans, and forage crops such as clover and alfalfa. Legume plants host nitrogen fixing bacteria. Legume crops improve soil fertility. Legumes are therefore very relevant to the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture, particularly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing farmland biodiversity and protecting soil and water resources.
Legume Futures is coordinated by Dr Bob Rees of the
Scottish Agricultural College (SAC).
Legume-supported cropping systems for Europe (Legume Futures) is funded by the European Union
through the 7th Framework Programme under grant number 245216 CP-FP
