LBI and Innovation: Lupin

Research on growing lupin in the Netherlands

Lupin, a healthy alternative for farmer and citizen' (2007-2009) is an innovative research project of the Louis Bolk Institute in collaboration with Meatless. A Dutch company located in Goes, Meatless produces vegetarian meat substitutes based on lupin and other vegetable fibres. Until recently the lupin had to be imported from Australia. Meatless wanted to know whether lupin could also be grown locally. Therefore the Louis Bolk Institute started a research programme to assess the possibilities of growing and processing lupin in the southwest of the Netherlands. This programme has been co-funded by the Rabobank, the steering group for Agricultural Innovation Brabant (LIB), and the Rusthoeve Experiment Farm. The Dutch brochure is now available.

Ideal crop for farmer, processing industry and consumer

Lupin currently receives a lot of attention, for various reasons. It has been shown to grow well in large parts of Europe - including northern Europe. Lupin is a drought-tolerant crop that improves soil fertility through deep rooting and nitrogen fixation. Moreover, the crop has not been subject to genetic modification. Therefore lupin is considered the ideal sustainable alternative for soy imported from North and South America. For the processing industry, lupin provides a very good base material with high protein content and high protein quality. Lupin meal is used in bread, confectionery and vegetarian meat substitutes.

Lupin production in the Netherlands has great potential

Lupin yield and product quality have improved considerably over the last few years. Five years ago, yields were 2 to 2.5 tons per hectare - compared to 3.5 tons today. New varieties have been developed that are suitable for human consumption without prior processing. For Dutch arable farmers, lupin is especially attractive if it can be sold on the market for human nutrition - where it will fetch a much better price than if it were to be used for animal feed. Our research has shown that lupin production in the Netherlands has great potential.

Further research is necessary

In the Netherlands, lupin is an attractive crop particularly for organic farmers and for production on the drier sandy soils. However, the available commercial varieties are only suitable for soils low in calcium. Moreover, lupin yields are not yet high enough, nor stable enough, for cultivation on prime arable land. That is why the Louis Bolk Institute continues to work on optimizing cultivation methods and improving varieties. For example, we have started to screen varieties for calcium tolerance. And we are exploring the cropping potential of the unknown varieties Andes Lupine and Tarwi.

For more information about our innovative lupin projects please contact Udo Prins.