Between December 2024 and February 2025, three workshops brought together key stakeholders from research, industry, agriculture, and policy to advance the role of legumes in European food systems.
The first workshop in Portugal focused on integrating legumes into local farming, highlighting their economic, environmental, and nutritional benefits.
Participants explored innovative approaches to enhance value chains and promote sustainable agriculture.
The second workshop, held in the United Kingdom, examined the ecosystem services provided by legumes, such as soil health improvement, water quality benefits, and carbon sequestration.
Discussions also addressed challenges in commercial markets and strategies to increase the adoption of legume-based products.
The third event, led by Sasa Straus through the legumES project, brought together academia,
government, citizens, and industry to assess the ecosystem benefits of legumes. Through a SWOT analysis, participants identified key strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, particularly in climate resilience, food security, and economic sustainability.
All three workshops underscored the urgent need for collaboration across the value chain to drive innovation, enhance market acceptance, and build resilient, sustainable legume-based food systems in Europe.