Toward sustainable production of protein-rich foods: appraisal of eight crops for Western Europe. Part I. Analysis of the primary links of the production chain.
Increased production of plant protein is required to support the production of protein-rich foods that can replace meat in the human diet to reduce the strain that intensive animal husbandry poses to the environment. The suitability of lupin (Lupinus spp.), pea (Pisum sativum), quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), triticale (x Triticosecale), lucerne (Medicago sativa), grasses (Lolium and Festuca spp.), rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus), and potato (Solanum tuberosum) for protein production in Western Europe was studied on the basis of a chain approach. The aspects considered are the familiarity of farmers with the cultivation of the crop, prospects for rapid crop improvement, protein production (kg/ha), protein quality (absence of unwanted substances) and familiarity with the usage for human food in Western Europe. Pea, lucerne, and grasses are the most promising, fair prospects are foreseen for lupin, triticale, rapeseed, and potato, whereas the possibilities for quinoa are judged to lag far behind. Estimated protein production for pea, lucerne, and grasses is 1250, 2500, and 2500 kg/ha, respectively.
Product Design and Quality Management Group, Food Technology and Nutritional Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. anita.linnemann@ift.fdsci.wag-ur.nl
Anita R
AR
Linnemann
Dolf Swaving
DS
Dijkstra
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D029741:Brassica rapa / Q000737:chemistry; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000592:standards; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D031297:Lupinus; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000737:chemistry; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000737:chemistry
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011506:Proteins