• Field analysis has allowed the creation of a guide for the precise introduction of crops according to the needs of the area.
• There are alternatives to monoculture and potential that make legumes a promising resource for the creation of profitable and healthy crops.

High production costs and low grain prices in recent years have reduced the profitability of arable farms. Some have seen their viability affected, and therefore, ways to address this problem are currently being studied.

Through an innovation study, the LegSapiens Operational Group ( GO LegSapiens : “Generating Opportunities: innovative cultivation systems based on grain legumes”) presented last May the results of a project that lasted two years (2021-2023) in which it was able to present a detailed analysis and a series of proposals to improve the human consumption legume industry.

In this way, it has been able to demonstrate that human-consumable legumes are indeed a profitable alternative for the country's producers.

Field guide

According to April 2023 data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, per capita legume consumption was 3.24 kilos. These figures, as highlighted by the GO on its social media, mean that consumption is "far from the consumption recommendations of health and nutrition institutions," which set the recommended amount of legumes per person at 11 kilos per year.

However, this figure is on the rise, according to the latest studies, which may give greater meaning to the valorization of legume crops.

Thus, the GO took a series of actions:

1. Field research : In different areas of Spain (the Ebro Valley, the Duero Valley, and the Central Region), they worked with beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, and soybeans. In this way, they aimed to analyze the most suitable conditions and crops for different areas of the country, both dry and irrigated.
2. Profitability analysis : From production to distribution, they have analyzed marketing and competition with other products from outside the country, and have been able to focus on improving profitability.
3. Exploring alternatives: Thanks to the collaboration with the University of Lleida , soybeans have been proposed as a potential alternative to monoculture crops and can contribute to diversification. Furthermore, the cultivation of chickpeas and beans in the Ebro Valley has proven to be a good alternative to monoculture, as they can be more profitable and sustainable in terms of water and fertilizer use.

This entire process has culminated in the development of a “Field Guide on Growing Legumes for Human Consumption ,” which aims to be the definitive resource that, in its words, offers “innovations that allow farmers to profitably introduce legumes for human consumption into their crop rotations.”

There, agricultural professionals can observe the conclusions of the 13 techniques used, 7 of them from the Ebro Valley (chickpeas, soybeans, peas and beans), 4 from the Duero (chickpeas, beans and lentils) and 2 from the Central region (chickpeas).

Despite the results, the Governing Council considers in its conclusions that greater support from public administrations is needed for the implementation of these innovative models. Ensuring farm profitability would, they say, enhance alternative crop rotations for farmers, contributing to sustainability and the production of food that is beneficial for health and the environment.

Members and funding

The GO LegSapiens was coordinated by the Union of small farmers and ranchers ( UPA ) , and its members included the Observatory for a culture of the territory , the Agrarian and Agri-food Technology Centre ( Itagra ) , Agrotecnio , the Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Agri-food Research and Development ( iMiDRA ) , the University of Lleida , the San Miguel Agricultural Farms ( Cinca Group ) , Aigües del Segarra Garrigues and the Professional Association of companies producing select seeds ( APROSE ).

The project was funded with €559,406.68, 80% co-financed by the European Union through a grant from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development ( EAFRD ) , within the National Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.