Pulse pioneers: £5.9m Defra-funded project aims to cut on-farm emissions and replace soybean meal in feed rations

A UK project is looking to increase pulse cropping in arable rotations to 20% across the UK from the current 5% level, and to develop and test new feed rations. The project, Nitrogen Efficient Plants for Climate Smart Arable Cropping Systems ​​(NCS), is a four-year £5.9m (US$7.61m) initiative involving 200 UK farms and 17 industry partners, funded by the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair (Defra) and delivered by Innovate UK. The idea is to support farmers in reducing agricultural emissions by increasing pulse cropping in arable rotations while also enabling the substitution of 50% of imported soybean meal used in feed with home-grown pulses and legumes. Pig and poultry feed manufacturer, ABN, is part of the consortium of UK companies, research institutes and farmer networks involved in the project, which is led by the UK's Processors and Growers Research Organization (PGRO). “The project directly complements ABN’s long-term strategy, as we strive to reduce the ...