EU-funded project inspires farmers to grow protein-packed crops for human consumption

Dried Lentil

Italy

Published Mar 4, 2024

Tridge summary

The Smart Protein project, funded by the EU, is promoting the cultivation of lentils, quinoa, fava beans, and chickpeas among European farmers to cater to the growing demand for plant-based foods. In collaboration with ProVeg International, the project has produced leaflets outlining optimal farming practices and climate conditions for these crops. This initiative comes as the plant-based sector in Europe has seen a 21% growth between 2020 and 2022, and a ProVeg survey indicates that over half of European meat consumers are actively cutting down their meat intake.

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Original content

The Smart Protein project, funded by the EU, is encouraging European farmers to cultivate lentils, quinoa, fava beans, and chickpeas to meet the rising demand for plant-based foods. ProVeg International, along with other partners, has compiled informative leaflets detailing the optimal climatic conditions and agricultural practices for each crop. Jasmijn de Boo, CEO of ProVeg International, expressed hope that these leaflets would not only provide valuable information but also inspire food producers to tap into Europe's growing plant-based sector. The transition to alternative proteins in Europe is gaining momentum, and farmers play a crucial role in supplying locally grown ingredients for these environmentally friendly food products. The plant-based sector has seen a 21% growth in 13 European countries between 2020 and 2022. A recent survey conducted by ProVeg revealed that 51% of meat eaters in Europe are actively reducing their meat consumption annually, signaling a shift ...

Source: Krishi Jagran