EAGLE: Enhanced Analytical and Genetics Tools for Improving UK Food Legumes

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Despite providing an excellent source of high-quality protein and featuring as important break-crops in arable cropping rotations improving sustainability, UK-grown pulses (dry pea and faba bean) are under-utilised for human consumption. Historic under-investment in pulse crop breeding and scientific R&D has, until recently, limited scope for improving knowledge and for developing new, better-adapted cultivars. However, the rapid recent growth in plant-based foods and ingredients has led to greater demand for pulses in Western diets aiming to reduce meat and dairy consumption. The food production sector is currently reliant on imported grains such as soya, lentil, and chickpea, even though UK is one of the greatest producers of pulses in Europe. EAGLE will help to improve access to established collections of diverse germplasm, advanced breeding methodologies and analytical testing to characterise nutritional quality could have a profound effect on enhancing researcher's and the plant breeding industry's abilities to develop new resilient, nutritious UK-grown pulse varieties and develop greater understanding of how key traits can be manipulated to benefit society and the environment. This could be a extremely useful in helping to reduce the reliance on imported pulses like soya.