Legumes are the future of food and fertilisation

Legumes are plants that do not need nitrogen (N) fertilisation because legumes are plants that are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2). In addition legumes can be used as ‘green’ fertilisers because legumes are N-rich and thus cropping legumes provides the soil with a cheap, sustainable source of N fertiliser. Legumes are also an excellent source of protein for feed and food. Nonetheless legume cropping land in Europe represents only less than 4% of arable land. The grounds for such a low cropping surface are discussed by Voisin et al. who analyse the production of forage and grain legumes in France since 1950. The authors propose changes to improve legume production.

 

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