Pulses have a lot of positive qualities. They contain a lot of beneficial nutrients, are budget-friendly, and can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen. They also have a very low ecological footprint, and their long shelf life also helps to fight against food waste. Nevertheless, only one in five Belgians eat pulses on a weekly basis. This is why the PeaPact2-project wants to put yellow peas in the spotlight to stimulate the protein transition in Flanders. Rikolto is part of this project and works together with HOGENT, Inagro, PIBO and Bond Beter Leefmilieu.
ThePeaPact2-project focuses on cultivation, processing and commercialisation of yellow peas in Flanders, with the goal of creating a local and sustainable protein supply chain. Currently, we are mostly dependent on Latin America and, partly, on Central Europe for the import of protein crops. The idea behind the PeaPact2-project is to create a local and sustainable protein supply chain for the yellow pea in Flanders. Various stakeholders, such as farmers, processors, academics and start-ups, are collaborating to tackle a range of challenges to achieve this.
Cultivating yellow peas is very beneficial for agricultural land because they can absorb nitrogen from the air, reducing the need for soil fertilisation. However, few pulses are currently being cultivated in Flanders. After all, there are also some challenges involved with growing this protein crop.
Yellow peas are not adapted to the climate in our region, so their harvest is very unpredictable. Many farmers are concerned about this and are therefore not very likely to take that risk on their own. To reduce the risks related to cultivation, they are working on innovative cultivation measures, such as bird repellents, disease control and mixed cropping of peas and grains. Field trials are also being conducted to develop varieties that are better adapted to this region.
After harvesting, many farmers often experience difficulties with drying, cleaning, storing and transporting the peas. Therefore, together with the processors, solutions are being worked out that will improve both the quality and economic feasibility of the peas.
The range of plant-based products in supermarkets keeps on growing. There is also an increase in the demand for plant-based protein products and meat substitutes. It is a market that is currently gaining a lot of attention, and yellow peas can ride the wave. Now is the right time to support this project.
Rikolto is responsible for finding a suitable form of collaboration between the various chain players that is achievable for everyone. All the chain players have to make sufficient efforts to achieve a fair distribution of both profits and risks in order to speak of efficient collaboration. The different collaboration models vary in the degree of collaboration between farmers and processors, the way revenues are divided and the management of risks. By testing and analysing different models, the best model that benefits all chain players can be found. This way, we can develop a protein chain that is not only sustainable but also fair.
The demand for locally cultivated pulses keeps growing, both from retailers and the processing industry. Flanders aims to be a pioneer in the production and consumption of sustainable proteins, especially in the context of the protein shift. Currently, the ratio of animal to plant-based protein consumption is around 60/40. In a healthy and sustainable diet, we consume in comparison more protein from plant-based sources. This transition is called the protein shift. The goal is to reverse the ratio of animal to plant-based protein consumption in Flanders to 40/60 by 2030. By facilitating sustainable collaboration between the different chain players for the yellow pea, Rikolto is contributing to this protein shift.
ThePeaPact2-project is supported by the Government of Flanders and is partly financed by the European Union.
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