‘Green Deal Protein-rich Crops’ launched

On July 14, 2022, more than 55 organizations, including KeyGene, signed the national Green Deal Protein-rich Crops. The aim of the Green Deal is to scale up the cultivation, processing and consumption of Dutch protein-rich crops. It makes cultivation economically attractive for farmers again, increases the self-sufficiency level of proteins and leads to more sustainable agriculture.

National Protein Strategy

The deal is part of the National Protein Strategy launched in 2020, aimed at increasing protein self-sufficiency. The Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food quality of the Netherlands, Henk Staghouwer, signed the Deal and is enthusiastic: ‘With this Green Deal we are taking on a major challenge. It is now important that we turn our signatures into deeds. Together with all parties, we can convert high-risk cultivation into a good revenue model and a useful crop for soil and biodiversity.’

KeyGene’s contribution

Our aim is to crucially contribute to the possibilities consumers have to shift to a more plant-based diet, that includes more vegetables and more plant-based proteins.

At KeyGene, we develop and apply technology innovations that will substantially support the speed and success of plant breeding in protein crops for human consumption that can be grown in Europe in a sustainable way. An example is faba bean, a crop that grows well in the North-Western European climate, for which plant breeding still in the early phase of development.

Faba bean is a crop with one of the highest protein yields and the highest positive impact on soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. Combining technology innovation for plant breeding that was earlier developed at KeyGene, with our new and faba been-focussed innovation, will boost human consumption of this important crop in alternatives for meat and dairy.

Read the full post on the website of Foodvalley.