In Switzerland, grain legumes (mainly soya, peas and faba beans) are only grown on 3-5% of arable land, although they make a significant contribution to the sustainable transformation of the agricultural and food system. In order to increase the proportion of plant proteins in the human diet and increase resilience to climatic extremes, more legume species are needed that are particularly drought-, disease- and pest-tolerant.
The aim of the project is to increase the diversity of locally cultivated legumes for human consumption. To this end, commercial varieties and landraces of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) are collected, propagated and tested for their suitability for cultivation under practical conditions, including in various cultivation methods. Successful varieties/landraces are processed and tasted in order to assess their potential as food in Switzerland. With the help of a citizen science app for on-farm trials and tastings, the digital networking of interested farmers, processors and consumers in Switzerland is promoted and results are made available in real time. The aim is to create new niche markets.
Project manager
