Farmers in the UK and EU should plant lentils and beans as part of their crop rotation to improve public health and reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers, say scientists.
According to the study, led by Bangor University, rotating staple crops such as barley, wheat and rapeseed with nitrogen-fixing legumes such as green lentils and fava beans offers significant environmental benefits.
Most farmers apply nitrogen fertilisers to soils to promote plant growth. But nitrogen is energy intensive to produce and if too much is used it can pollute local land and waterways.
However, researchers say growing legumes is a natural way to give soils a nitrogen boost and produce healthy, nutritious food.
Beans and peas were once staple food items but now most of the UK’s crop of beans is exported to other countries or given to livestock. Scientists believe this is slowing changing as more people are moving towards a plant-based diet.
Co-author Dr David Styles from the University of Limerick in Ireland said the results strengthen evidence on the positive role that healthy diet transitions could make to environmental sustainability.
“Legumes provide a healthier balance of carbohydrates, protein and fibre compared with cereal crops and could improve the nutritional profile of the food we eat,” Dr Styles added.
LSL News.