PROTEINLEG Operational Group: Development of high-quality food proteins through sustainable production and processing of legume crops

• General objectives:
  • The main objective of PROTEINLEG is to develop innovative, cost-effective, and resource-efficient sources of plant-based protein-rich foods from the sustainable cultivation of grain legumes.
    
• The following specific objectives have been defined:
  • Ensure sufficient and sustainable production of raw materials, including alternatives to soy, through innovative, profitable, and resource-efficient cultivation of protein-rich legumes.
  • Improving the quality and quantity of protein from legume crops through a multidisciplinary approach.
  • Develop protein-rich, plant-based products by understanding the interactions of proteins with other food components and their consequences for human and animal nutrition.

By developing a model that guarantees the efficient supply of plant proteins and takes advantage of the ecological benefits of legume cultivation, PROTEINLEG seeks to respond to the growing demand for plant proteins, providing society with a sustainable alternative to animal proteins. It will also reduce livestock's high dependence on soy imports, the main source of protein currently used for animal feed.
In this way, PROTEINLEG is committed to the local cultivation of traditional legume varieties, currently relegated to the background by intensive agriculture focused on cereals and imports.