Educational and practical handbook for the production and consumption of sustainable legumes
The value of leguminous plants is not currently explored to their full potential in Ireland or across the EU. Thanks to their extraordinary variety, legumes can be grown under diverse environmental conditions, and they play an important role in organic and sustainable agriculture due to their ability to fix nitrogen. In addition, legumes are a staple of many cuisines and a key ingredient in many dishes, both innovative and traditional, and are one of the most sustainable, climate-friendly sources of protein.
The CO-FRESH project, coordinated by CNTA in Spain, worked with 26 different partners across 10 different EU countries to promote and co-create sustainable and competitive fruits and vegetables’ value chains in Europe through concrete actions and approaches.
While most modern value chains of leguminous proteins focus on legumes as animal feed, one of the focus areas of the CO-FRESH was on fresh and dry legumes intended for human consumption, and on the small- and medium-scale organic cultivation of legumes such as chickpeas, peas, beans and lentils for human consumption.
One of the outputs of the project was a detailed handbook on leguminous proteins which is accessible for beginners, advanced gardeners, and farmers. The handbook uses a holistic approach to provide practical education and guidance on the cultivation of legumes, addressing crop management, maintenance and crop propagation while also providing recipes for how legumes can be integrated into the diet.
The purpose of the book is to encourage readers to grow and consume certain types of legumes that have been neglected in recent decades but were once popular and could bring sustainable benefits to food production and consumption. This handbook is also addressed to producers interested in sustainable farming, consumers trying to navigate environmental and health issues, and all professionals who encounter food systems or gastronomy in the course of their work.
The handbook on Chickpeas, Peas, Beans and Lentils is available for free download here.
Find out more about this innovation by contacting Róisín on roisin@erinn.eu. For more innovations like this, visit our Innovation Hub.
