As the demand for plant-based milk and meat alternatives continues to rise, legumes have become key ingredients in these products. Currently, most formulations rely on soybean, which poses agronomic challenges in countries like Spain, where its cultivation is not ideal. In response, Soria Natural, an industry partner of the LegumES project, is seeking alternative legume crops better suited to local conditions.
Pilot Study 16 investigates the potential of growing various legume monocultures and legume-cereal mixtures for the development of plant-based drinks and protein extrusion—with the dual aim of identifying suitable crops and evaluating their ecosystem service contributions.
Specific objectives are:
- Assess the yield potential of legume and legume-cereal mixtures for use in plant-based animal product alternatives.
- Quantify the suitability of different crops and mixtures for producing high-quality milk and meat alternatives.