Legume Generation Report 8
Donal Murphy-Bokern, Fokion Papathanasiou, Mathijs Hast and Fred Stoddard
It all starts with a seed.
The purpose of this paper is to characterise protein crops and to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the genetic improvement of legumes in a changing environment. It relates to the pre-farm gate part of protein crop value chains. We hope to address in particular further public (such as the European Union) and private investors (breeders) and breeders in crop genetic improvement. This paper was prepared to support the European Union CAP Network Focus Group ‘Production of protein crops under climate change’.
In line with the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union, protein crops are defined here as nitrogen-fixing crops. In practice, these are all members of the legume family. The legume family (Fabaceae or Leguminosae) is large and diverse. The legume species of interest to farmers in Europe belong to the subfamily Faboideae or Papilionoideae, defined by the characteristic butterfly shape of their flowers. The flowers have five petals, two of which are fused to form a keel. The flower is symmetrical in only one axis.
