Can fava beans grow in Europe?

Traditionally, fava beans have been used to feed animals. But now, they are sought after for humans because they are rich in fibre and because their high protein content makes them a good alternative to meat protein. Since they are normally grown to feed animals which will then feed humans, why not cut out the middleman (or middle cow)? Fava beans can also be grown in Europe, meaning that tracing them to their origin is far less complex for European food companies than is the case with many commodities. With the EUDR waiting in the wings​, this is even more important. The fava bean, according to Rosmarie Reuss, Senior Consultant for the consultancy Eura AG, has a higher protein content than many other alternative proteins. “This is one of the reasons why it’s become more and more interesting for human food products,” she said at the Smart Protein closing conference in Berlin last week. There is also great flexibility in what fava beans offer as an ingredient, she said. The fava ...