SCIENTISTS, farmers and food industry leaders from across the UK and beyond gathered in Scotland this week to explore how crops such as beans, peas and lentils could help tackle climate change, improve food security and support more sustainable farming.
The three-day UK Legume Research Community (UKLRC) conference took place at The James Hutton Institute from May 5 to 7, bringing together experts to discuss the growing role legumes could play in the future of agriculture.
Researchers believe increasing the use of legumes — which also include clovers — could help reduce the farming industry’s dependence on artificial fertilisers while improving soil health and reducing pollution entering rivers and waterways.
The topic is expected to resonate with many farming and rural communities across Argyll and Bute, where agriculture continues to play a key role in the local economy and landscape.
Legumes are naturally able to work with soil bacteria to capture nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into nutrients for plants, reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers and helping lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Professor Pete Iannetta, a founding member of the UKLRC and head of the conference organising committee, said legumes had enormous untapped potential.
He said: “Legumes are hidden in plain sight. They offer solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face, from climate change to food security, but they’re still not widely used.
“This meeting is about bringing people together to change that.”
Discussions during the conference focused on the full food production chain, from crop resilience and farming practices to food manufacturing and national policy.
Delegates also examined how the UK could reduce its reliance on imported plant-based protein at a time when climate change and global instability continue to put pressure on food supplies.
Workshops explored new technologies including gene editing and the growing alternative protein market, which includes plant-based foods as well as products derived from algae and fungi.
Participants also visited the Centre for Sustainable Cropping, a commercial-scale farm established to trial regenerative farming methods designed to improve soil quality while maintaining crop yields.
While organisers highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of legumes, they also acknowledged ongoing challenges including inconsistent crop performance, limited supply chains and profitability concerns compared with traditional crops such as wheat and barley.
Researchers hope the conference will help build momentum behind a more sustainable and resilient farming system for the future.
