Increased and market-adapted production of grain legumes in Norway to increase self-sufficiency of proteins for food and feed

The project idea is based on the documented potential to increase domestic production of grain legumes to respond to the increasing market opportunities for plant protein commodities for both food and feed. Better varieties are needed, and management practices should be improved to achieve high and stable yield of good quality. The project aims to develop tools and materials to initiate Norwegian plant breeding activities, and to solve important agronomic challenges through improved management practices. Focus will be put on quality traits to meet quality requirements for food and feed, including those for modern processing technologies. The project shall promote knowledge transfer on production and utilization of grain legumes, important for value creating for farmers and subsequent steps in supply chain. Variety trials are conducted in peas and faba beans (FB) in four seasons (2021-24) at three locations yearly with varieties/lines mostly from European breeders. The number of varieties tested increased from 23 (in both peas and FB) in 2021 to about 50 in 2023 and 2024. Comprehensive recordings of plant development, diseases and agronomic traits are done. Weekly flights of drones (UAV) equipped with multispectral and RGB cameras are performed, and data are analyzed. Large differences are found between early (Finish) and late varieties of FB, and the early is low-yielding and susceptible for chocolate spot (Botrytis spp.). Among the later, high-yielding varieties are identified with better yield stability, and more resistant to chocolate spot. Some of these are recommended for cultivation in Norway. Procedures for phenotyping in FB using UAV are developed. Plant height can be estimated precisely. Results showed that yield was predicted well at the flowering stage (R2=0,83), which is promising. Genomic tools are developed to support genetic analyses based on phenotypic data, and to be used in varietal breeding. In total, 42 varieties and 144 breeding lines in FB (target GBS SPET 90k panel), IGATech) and 43 varieties in peas (13K SNP chip, Trait Genetics) is genotyped. Data are analyzed to investigate population structure and genomic diversity. Results will be used to identify the best parental genotypes for crossings, and in future to develop models for genomic selection. Moreover, KASP markers for content of tannins (TTG1) and vicine/convicine (v/c) are validated and ready to use by Graminor. A MAGIC (Multi-parent Advanced Generation InterCross) in FB is under development, also at Graminor. The work to improve management practices has focused on strategies for pest managements, optimal seeding rates/depths, harvesting strategies, as well as the importance of soil structure for plant growth and development. Field trials, 18 in number, have been conducted to study fungicide treatments combined with seed rates in early and late varieties of FB. Comprehensive scorings are done to better understand the dominating diseases in FB, and high infestations of Fusarium and Botrytis, and other molds are found in harvested grain. Analyses of mycotoxins will be done in selected samples. Relationships between control strategies and level of fungal infestations will be further studied in 2024/25. Field trials in FB bean have been conducted in 3 years to investigate the adaption of a coincidence-avoidance strategy against Pea leaf weevil under Norwegian conditions. Preliminary results indicate that the weather conditions after sowing and during emergence strongly influences the damage potential of the pest. Increased occurrence of the weevil Bruchus rufimanusis is being observed in FB, giving damage on seeds and reduced quality. The examination of sowing depths and temperature for germination/emergence showed that deep sowing under low temperatures delayed emergence significantly. Peas were more sensitive and should not be sown deeper than 5 cm in early spring. Experiments are on-going to study both harvest strategies under wet conditions and the importance of soil structure on plant growth and BNF. Preliminary results showed that compacted soil gave shorter and less vigorous plants, and less lodging in peas. A selection of 10 varieties in both peas and FB (two seasons, three locations) is characterized for macronutrients (protein, starch, dietary fibers, lipids) and antinutritional compounds (tannins, saponins, raffinose family oligosaccharides, and v/c. The results are under statistical processing and interpreting. A two-day open conference was held in cooperation with the project “GreenPlantFood” and “Matkornpartnerskapet” June 2024. Results are also disseminated to Norwegian actors through Webinar-Serie (2024), articles in “Jord- og plantekultur”, trade magazines and presentations on conferences and field days.

The project idea is based on the documented potential to increase domestic production of peas and faba bean to respond to the increasing market opportunities for plant protein commodities that are environmentally sound and healthy. This project aims to provide necessary knowledge, materials and tools for 1) future efficient breeding of grain legumes adapted to Norwegian conditions, and 2) solutions to main cultivation challenges to increase the production of grain legumes in Norway with good quality for food and feed. Moreover, further development of grain legume production will be important in a long-term and sustainable development of Norwegian agriculture, where optimal exploitation of the agricultural areas suitable for arable crops is urgent. The project takes a broad approach by including both management solutions to agronomic challenges based on varieties already available, and competence building to initiating breeding activities in Norway that will give progress in the long term. Both are urgent to successfully expand production of grain legumes in Norway. The project shall develop improved strategies for plant establishment, integrated pest management and harvesting that are important to improve both yield and quality. Core collections and breeding populations will be developed that are suited for Norwegian conditions to investigate genetic variability of important plant traits, and identify breeding goals and improved genotypes. Special focus will be put on quality traits and strategies through management and the choice of varieties to meet quality requirements for food and feed, including those for modern processing technologies. The project shall establish the Norwegian Protein Crop Forum to enable knowledge transfer within the entire supply chain, and to promote production and utilization of grain legumes in Norway.