1. HORIZON 2020 project LEGVALUE: Fostering sustanable legume-based farming system
dr. Žydrė Kadžiulienė
MITA session “Horizon 2020: Insights into the new Societal Challenge 2 work programme , November 24, 2017

2. The project concept and objectives
An Introduction
The project concept and objectives

3. The system and consequences
Rationale
The system and consequences
EU is characterized by self-sufficiency on cereals and massive imports of soybean.
Several self-reinforcement mechanisms that lock in this system
Relevant consequences in terms of costs and environmental impact.
LEGVALUE will provide knowledge on a large range of legume species and cropping systems and their expected performances:
offering a variety of locally-adapted crops for agricultural conditions in Europe.
pure crops, intercrops, cover crops, etc. offering a diversity of services within the system
towards the ecosystem: biological weed control and nitrogen supply, reduced greenhouse gas emissions ,decreased non-renewable energy use and global warming potential, reduced acidification and eco- and human-toxicity
identify the conditions for reaching the targeted services.
Currently, the EU agro industry is characterized by a self-sufficiency on cereals and a massive import of soybean, as a result of several self-reinforcement mechanisms that lock in this system which have relevant consequences in terms of costs and environmental impact.
While scientific knowledge on legumes has been until now concentrated on a small number of species and crop management strategies, LEGVALUE will provide knowledge on a large range of legume species and cropping systems, together with their expected performances, thus offering a large possibility of locally-adapted crops for the very wide variety of agricultural conditions in Europe. The way these species may be included in cropping or grassland systems may highly differ as well (pure crops, intercrops, cover crops, etc.), offering a diversity of services within the system and towards the ecosystem: biological weed control ,biological nitrogen supply), reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, reduction of non-renewable energy use, global warming potential, acidification, as well as eco- and human-toxicity.
The combination of meta-analyses of scientific knowledge and expert knowledge will help to synthesize this information, and to identify the conditions for reaching the targeted services.

4. Rationale Growers and Markets
LEGVALUE will identify and share optimal crop management strategies, and their impact on the increase of the ecosystem and economic services gained, thus increasing the benefits that are gained from legumes.
LEGVALUE will develop tools for farmers to highlight the interests of legume crops within a cropping or a grassland system which occur
Legume species use is highly dependent on the other actors of the chain.
The organisational design of supply chains and added value sharing
Institutional collective rules also influence innovation capacity
More market information would also better connect the production with the range of end uses.
LEGVALUE will identify and share optimal crop management, and their consequence on the increase of the services gained, while several on-farm data showed that the conditions in which legumes are grown by farmers are not always optimal, nor the adaptation of the management of the rotation crops to benefit fully from legumes services, thus decreasing the benefits that are gained from legumes.
LEGVALUE will develop tools for farmers to highlight the interests of legume crops within a cropping or a grassland system which occur most often at the multi-annual scale, depending on the effects of the legume on the following crops.
The introduction of a legume species in the crop sequence by farmers is highly dependent on the other actors of the chain, either upstream (such as breeders who offer adapted cultivars) or downstream (such as feed or food industry). The organisational design of supply chains also determines the way added value is shared.
In addition, the institutional framework (collective rules) could also influence innovation capacity of actors according to the norms and standards that could foster or slacken some specific uses.
More market information would also better connect the production with the range of end uses.

5. Rationale Policy makers
Policies affect incentives to legume cultivation and the development of the related value chains.
Policies interact with market drivers.
A need for consistent policy implementation to account for potential from legumes cultivation.
LEGVALUE was built to help find technical, policy and governance solutions and proposals for farmers and all stakeholders involved in legume based value chains, through agronomic, economic, social and policy studies.
A number of policies (EU, national and local) affect incentives to legume cultivation and the development of the related value chains.
In many cases policies interact among them and with market drivers.
However, there is a need for consistent policy implementation specifically tailored to account for potential from legumes cultivation.
LEGVALUE was built to help find technical, policy and governance solutions and proposals for farmers and all stakeholders involved in legume based value chains, through agronomic, economic, social and policy studies.

6. Goals
To Develop sustainable and competitive legume-based farming systems and agri-feed and food chains in the EU.
To Assess economic & environmental benefits for the EU agro industry to widely produce and use legumes in a sustainable manner.
To Demonstrate the added value of various existing legume value chains in the EU
To Provide a range of alternative solutions to improve the economic situation of each actor involved in the various chains described.
To Contribute to increase the autonomy of the EU regarding the production of legume proteins for both feed and food.
The goal of LegValue is to pave the road to develop sustainable and competitive legume-based farming systems and agri-feed and food chains in the EU.
The project will assess both the economic and environmental benefits for the EU agro industry to widely produce and use legumes in a sustainable manner.
Reflecting the market diversity, LegValue will demonstrate the added value of various existing legume value chains and provide a range of alternative solutions to improve the economic situation of each actor in the various chains.
LegValue will contribute to increased autonomy of the EU in the production of legume proteins for both feed and food.

7. Objectives Objectives at 5 levels Scientific level:
Assessment potential for legume value chains
Quantify economics, agro-ecosystem services, diversity & cropping management systems
Analyse bottlenecks and intervention opportunities
Socio-technological level:
Develop a strategy of changes to stimulate the adoption of legume cropping systems
Identifying windows of opportunity for changing mainstream agricultural practices
Identify technological breakthroughs that can foster the use of legume in various supply chains both for feed and food
Provide analysis of the dynamics of transition pathways that will lead to increased use of legumes in sustainable European cropping systems
At the scientific level:
To propose realistic assessments of the potential of sustainable and competitive legume-based cropping and grassland systems in a diversity of situations in Europe (WP1).
To quantify the provision and the economic value of agro-ecosystem services related to cultivation of legumes for a diversity of crops, crop management, cropping systems and pedo-climatic conditions in Europe (WP1).
To design realistic scenarios by upscaling arable crop and grassland systems based on legumes, accounting for benefits and risks from agronomy, environment and economy (WP1).
To analyse the innovation opportunities and bottlenecks and, through signposting, provide lessons learned for a successful transition (WP5).
At the socio-technological level:
To develop a strategy of institutional changes to stimulate the adoption of the selected legume cropping systems,
identifying windows of opportunity for changing mainstream agricultural practices into the new socio-technical configurations (WP1).
To identify the current technological breakthroughs and new feed and food products that can foster the use of legume in various supply chains both for feed and food (WP2).
To provide a socio-technical analysis of the dynamics of transition pathways that will lead to increased use of legumes in sustainable European cropping systems (WP5).

8. Objectives 3. Agricultural level:
Demonstrate the agronomic functions and the ecosystem services provided by legumes
Identify and share successful approaches to increase in practice the competitiveness of the legumes across a diversity of sustainable cropping systems
4. Industrial level of the agri-food chain:
Elaborate price-setting indicators and quality standards to facilitate trade on legumes at the EU scale.
Identify solutions that fulfil the economic interest of each actor involved and the interaction among actors, and to explore innovative value chains
Provide best practice strategies for upscaling of sustainable local and regional legume- based value chains while matching production and processing to markets
Analyse the behaviour of several value chains with different end uses and scale levels
Provide the actors of the legumes value chains with information and coordination instruments to facilitate trade and to create innovative value-chain arrangements
At the agricultural level:
To demonstrate the agronomic functions and the ecosystem services provided by legumes in field conditions through on-farm demonstration activities (WP1).
To identify and share successful approaches to increase in practice the competitiveness of the legumes across a diversity of sustainable cropping systems (WP1).
At the industrial level in the sector of the agri-food chain:
To elaborate price-setting indicators and quality standards for farmers and users to facilitate trade on legumes at the EU scale (WP2, WP3).
To identify solutions that fulfil the economic interest of each actor involved and the interaction among actors, and to explore innovative value chains (WP2).
To provide best practice strategies for upscaling of sustainable local and regional legume-based value chains while matching production and processing to markets (WP2, WP5).
To analyse the behaviour of several value chains with different end uses and scale levels (WP3).
To provide the actors of the legumes value chains with information and coordination instruments to facilitate trade and to create innovative value-chain arrangements (WP3).

9. Objectives 5. Policy level:
Identify levers for EU and national policies through the analyses of the impact of the last CAP and a comparison of national initiatives recently set up .
Highlight the pivotal position of legumes among the different policy areas.
Provide recommendations on the combination of levers and specific policy measures acting at different levels of the value chains to foster sustainable transition.
At the policy level:
To identify levers for EU and national policies through the analyses of the impact of the last CAP and a comparison of national initiatives recently set up (WP4).
To highlight the pivotal position of legumes among the different policy areas (WP4).
To provide recommendations on the combination of levers and specific policy measures acting at different levels of the value chains to foster sustainable transition (WP5).

10. Overall concept Based on a multi-actor approach,
Co-design cropping systems and scenarios of their spatial arrangement
Design workshops and model-based simulations.
On-farm innovation tracking will quantify realistic and satisfactory legume-based systems
Assessment of these scenarios to quantify changes and improve stakeholder decision-making.
The project will be based on several pilot cases (24 farm networks and 31 value chains brought and already followed by the partners of the consortium).
All the pilot cases are already in place represent more than 100 stakeholders and about 400 farmers
Dissemination of innovation and learning by LegValue researchers from different disciplines ,advisors from public extension services, farmer-based organisations and representative actors of the value chain.
Based on a multi-actor approach –
the project will co-design cropping systems and scenarios of their spatial arrangement
with the stakeholders of the sociotechnical system, based on prototyping (Vereijken et al., 1997), design workshops, and model-based simulations.
On-farm innovation tracking will be conducted to feed these scenarios, which will allow us to describe and quantify realistic and satisfactory legume-based systems
already implemented.
Assessment of these scenarios, based on multi-criteria tools, adapted to take into account the diverse component of sustainability, the specific criteria used by the actors to take decisions and existing cropping systems, will allow us to quantify changes and improve stakeholder decision-making.
The project will be based on several pilot cases (24 farm networks and 31 value chains brought and already followed by the partners of the consortium).
All the pilot cases are already in place and LegValue will have access to data from previous years from all the pilot cases, especially the farm networks. These pilot cases represent more than 100 stakeholders and about 400 farmers that LegValue partners will interact with in a collaborative and participatory way.
The LegValue consortium with researchers from different disciplines (agronomy, agricultural economy, social economy, macroeconomics, value chain analysis, food and feed processing and uses, socio-technical innovations, policy analysis), as well as advisors from public extension services, farmer-based organisations and representative actors of the value chain, will facilitate the dissemination of innovation and learning.

11. How it will work

12. How it will work
The work packages 1-5 are interdependent, whilst having their own objectives the research in each work package is dependant upon other work packages for validation and to draw conclusions.
WP6 disseminates the knowledge and findings of WPs 1-5 whilst WP7 ensures coordination of the whole project and facilitates internal project communications.

13. Studying and analysing
How it will work
The 6 work packages of LEGVALUE will concentrate analyses on the most economically, ecologically or socially important legume species in Europe.
Legume species
The most economically, ecologically or socially important legume species in Europe
Soybean , pea, faba bean - the three major grain legumes produced.
Lentils and chickpea – the two major legumes imported - LegValue will analyse and propose pathways to EU self-sufficiency.
fodder legumes: alfalfa, clovers, vetches and sainfoin. Identify the conditions to increase the production.
Studying and analysing
24 European Farm Networks
8 Organic, 16 conventional
31 existing value chains
Taking into account the most economically, ecologically or socially important legume species in Europe. LegValue will concentrate analyses on:
The three major grain legumes for which the area has recently increased (FAO, 2015 and Eurostat, 2015): soybean ( ha), pea ( ha), and fababean ( ha).
Lentils and chickpea, of which the EU imported in 2012 respectively T and T (Eurostat, 2013). LegValue will analyse and propose pathways to EU self-sufficiency.
Identify the conditions to increase the production of fodder legumes: alfalfa, clovers, vetches and sainfoin.
Studying and analysing
24 European farm networks growing these species (8 organic and 16 conventional), including 8 farm networks growing legumes to reach protein autonomy and 16 farm networks linked to a value chain for feed and food. Selected for their innovative approaches each network will feed the project with data on crop sequence, crop management, seed storage and marketing or self-consumption, yields and seed quality, and prices of inputs and products. Farmers will also be interviewed for the analysis of the determinants of these choices and performances. The networks will also assess innovations coming from the project.
31 existing value chains, followed as pilot case studies, will cover the diversity of feed and food uses ,innovative processes, the diversity of legume species studied in the farm networks, and at different scales levels (local, regional and national levels) will help to identify the preferred conditions for new value chains development.

14. Consortium set up
LEGVALUE includes several RTD’s (from public and private institutions) and industrial partners (including SMEs) with complementary expertise.
Stakeholders are engaged at all stages via the project’s External Advisory Board
Actors of the pilot cases include farmers, breeders, seed producers, advisors, suppliers, traders and brokers, collectors and processors, end users in feed and food, and industry associations and decision and policy makers.
The consortium has been composed to ensure an efficient knowledge transfer and exploitation strategy, allowing stakeholders to both help the project and directly use the research results and implement them when possible under current legislation.

15. Main Outcomes anticipated
WP1: On farm assessment of innovative legume crop management practices and ecosystem services
A map of the EU areas suitable for growing legumes, achievable yields for each one, with a quantification of the offer for the value chains and the opportunities for farmers.
Agronomic, environmental and economic impacts of increasing legume crops at field, farm, territorial and European levels.
A list of quantified agro-ecosystem services provided by legume- based cropping at field, farm, regional and European scales.
A decision-support system to help the choice of optimal ways to introduce and manage legumes in cropping systems.

16. Main Outcomes anticipated
WP2: Development of legume value chains
Inventory of various legume value chains and assessment of their importance to the EU agro-industry.
Price indicators and quality standards (based on common criteria parameters) required by downstream users (WP2 and WP3).
Technological breakthroughs and new added values in feed and food supply chains.
Opportunities and bottlenecks in the development of legume value chains and strategies for their successful upscaling (WP2 and WP5).

17. Main Outcomes anticipated
WP3: Economic analysis of European legume markets
List of lock-ins and levers in the development of legume markets in the EU.
Solutions for the actors of legume production, end uses and policy-makers to overcome constrains (WP2 and WP3).
Assessment of the current and potential economic value of the legume value chains in the EU distinguishing field/farm-effects and regional/European-effects.
Establishment of a European legume market information system.
Easy-to-use tool for farmers to calculate the economic value of legumes.

18. Main Outcomes anticipated
WP4: Identification of Levers for EU national policies to facilitate the development of legumes in Europe
Analysis of current policy settings and their effects on legumes.
Identification of improved policy measures to support legumes development at different scales (from farm to EU levels).
Models of policy mixes to incentivise sustainable legume cropping systems.
Recommendations for future policies and good practices to boost legume cultivation in the EU.

19. Main Outcomes anticipated
WP5: Transition path analysis
Set of legume transition scenarios based on demographic, economic, social, technological, ecological and political analyses, and their development strategies.
Identification of successful socio-technical innovations in legume value chains for food and feed.
Recommendations to scale up use of legume farming systems
Identification of successful transition pathways for sustainable European legume-based value chains, including policies that can support them.
Actors involved in WP5:
Farmers, advisory services, technical institutes, input suppliers, cooperatives, merchants, manufacturers, feed and food industries, institutional organizations, policy makers, researchers.
Input from actors:
Identification of socio-technical innovations
Development of management tools

20. Main Outcomes anticipated
WP6: Outreach, dissemination and Knowledge/ technology transfer
User-targeted communication and dissemination materials.
Events for actors/stakeholders: workshops, training sessions for practitioners, participation to conferences and existing platforms.
A legumes website portal acting as a repository for all information for legume chains actors.
Actors involved in WP6:
Farmers, advisory services, breeders, seed producers, input suppliers, technical institutes, cooperatives, merchants, feed and food industry, institutional organizations, researchers.
Activities for actors:
Workshops
Best practice manuals, training sessions
Regional conferences, final project conference
Web legume portal
Newsletters
Success stories

21. Resources - Funding The project in figures:
Duration: 4 years Starting date: 1st June 2017
Total cost: Euros EU grant: Euros
Consortium size: 24 partners
Participation:
A project accessible to all commercial companies who wish to contribute to the success of the project through the contribution of new market sector case studies and / or projects that meet the objectives of LegValue.
Contacts:
Project Coordinator: Frédéric Muel, Terres Inovia
Project Leader: Nathalie Blosseville, Terres Univia
The Leg Value project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No  

22. Partner list
The Leg Value project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No  

23. How, Why and What Partner 24 – LAMMC
The Leg Value project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No  

24. BIOPOTENTIAL AND QUALITY OF PLANTS FOR MULTIFUNCTIONAL USE
LAMMC conduct long-term national programms
BIOPOTENTIAL AND QUALITY OF PLANTS FOR MULTIFUNCTIONAL USE
Annuals and perennials crops for sustainable production and resource management
Legumes for feed, food and ecological service in organic and conventional farming
Biomass of crops for bioenergy and new added value industrial products

25. Participation in Project ERA-NET Project
COST Action 627 „Carbon storage in European grasslands
COST Action 852 „Quality legume – based forage systems for contrasting environments“
Project
ERA-NET
Project
The Leg Value project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No  

26. on legume management in conventional and organic farming systems,
LAMMC brings expertise on sustainability of agricultural ecosystems, in agronomy,
legumes for feed, food and ecological service in organic and conventional farming,
on legume management in conventional and organic farming systems,
on legumes breeding (peas, lupin, clovers, lucerne),
on technology transfer of innovative technologies in agronomy and agroecology, training and dissemination.
Lithuanian Farmers are growing legume crops : in 2016, as compared to 2012, areas of leguminous crops for grain, increased most considerably by 89.2%.
The Leg Value project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No  

27. Partner 24 – LAMMC involved in:
WP 1
WP 1
WP 6
WP 2
WP 3
WP 4
WP 5
T1.1
T5.1
T1.1
T2.1
T3.2
T4.1
T1.2
T1.2
T5.2
T4.2
T1.3
T1.3
T4.4
T1.4
T1.2
Team of LAMMC will generate knowledge on improving legume value chain and the elaboration of innovative cropping systems in different soil and environment conditions for the high quality production for feed, food and agroecosystems health.
T1.5
T1.6
T1.7
The Leg Value project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No  

28. Expected Impacts
Development of sustainable legume based cropping and grassland systems and agri food and feed chains
Increase the competitiveness of legume crops from farm to agri-food and feed chains
Reduce environmental impacts of agricultural activities ( e.g greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution)
Scientific support for relevant EU policies ( CAP, Water frame wrok Directive, climate change objectives)
Strengthening of transdisciplinary research and long lasting implementation

29. LegValue
“To develop sustainable legume-based farming systems and agri-feed and food chains in EU”
Thank You
@Legvalueproject
You tube channel: LEGVALUE
This is a restatement of the GOALS
To Develop sustainable and competitive legume-based farming systems and agri-feed and food chains in the EU.
To Assess economic & environmental benefits for the EU agro industry to widely produce and use legumes in a sustainable manner.
To Demonstrate the added value of various existing legume value chains in the EU
To Provide a range of alternative solutions to improve the economic situation of each actor involved in the various chains described.
To Contribute to increase the autonomy of the EU regarding the production of legume proteins for both feed and food.
The Leg Value project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No