Significance of legumes as a feed source

Abstract

The European Union faces a challenge to increase the production of domestic protein crops in order to lower its economic dependence on imports of protein crops, soybeans in particular, and the fluctuation of global prices on food. To solve the problem of self-sufficiency of protein in the EU, encompassing all the agro-climatic zones typical of European agriculture and all-level supply chains at the EU level, increasing the output of domestic protein crops, including legumes (faba beans, peas, lupine, soybeans etc.) has been set as a strategic goal. The research examined the kinds of protein crops used for feed and the self-sufficiency of the crops in the EU. The research examined the area under legumes for seeds, the yields and the protein yields of the crops in Latvia. The research aim is to examine the key characteristics of production of feed legumes in Latvia. To achieve the aim, the following specific research tasks are defined: 1) to examine the characteristics of production of protein feed crops in the EU Member States; 2) to analyse legume production performance indictors in Latvia.