Developing legume‐supported cropping systems in Europe: Have we overlooked something?

Abstract

Why are legume crops rare in Europe even though they grow well there? This opinion paper brings together concepts from crop physiology, classical economics and sociotechnical theory to address this question. It argues for increased focus on research and innovation on crop performance. The starting point is that trade policy no longer explains the marginalisation of legumes. A more recent premise that mutually supporting social, technical and agricultural factors have combined over time to establish and maintain the current cropping systems is also incomplete. However, these propositions have led to significant investment in research on niche value chains in the hope that these will combine within transition pathways to break through system incumbency that “locks out” legumes. It is argued here that this approach is incomplete for crops because the scaling up and agglomeration of niche processing and marketing activities does not improve the fundamental crop resource capture and conversion processes in the field upon which farm productivity depends. Reconsideration of some economic and crop physiological basics is required. Farmers aim to make rational decisions and to focus on what they do best. The principles behind international trade described in the 19th century and the fundamental biophysical crop-level processes that were elucidated in the 1960s together explain the cropping choices many European farmers make. We need more focus on raising the on-farm performance and competitiveness of the legume crops themselves and the farming systems in which they are grown. Efficient, productive legume crops are important also if we are to avoid a trade-off between environmental gains in Europe and disbenefits elsewhere because of effects on global trade.