They are fabulous and yet Europeans consume it too little: legumes. Lentils, broken peas, red beans … These pulses, whose seeds are contained in pods, are part of the solutions to climate change, the loss of biodiversity and the difficulties of farmers. These plants make it possible to revitalize soils, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and they are good for human, animal health and ecosystems.
In Alsace, in eastern Francefarmers and local authorities work, hand in hand, for the return of legumes, in fields and on plates. In the region, it was the drought of 2020 that pushed Grégory Haxaire, and his three farmers’ partners, to diversify. Because in the stony lands of the Alsace plain, corn only pushes great reinforcement of irrigation. “” About ten years ago, there was corn as far as the eye can see. And since 2021, Alsace seeds have been launched, so the culture of legumes “, Details the farmer. The lenses, chickpeas and quinoa, which they have introduced in their crop rotations, require them to pump much less water into the tablecloth: ” We can already see it just on diesel for our groups that feed irrigations: there is a need for less diesel ”, continues this producer of legumes.
Another economic and environmental benefit: they buy fewer synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. Because legumes naturally fix nitrogen in the soil. “” Nitrogen in the ground is a little bit like what we have at noon and evening on the plate. This is really what gives food to the plant, explains Grégory Haxaire. And this gain due to legumes, we will find it two, even three years after, on the same plot. »»
Local water and health agencies are also delighted that they cultivate without pesticides. Even if their prices are therefore higher than those of imported pulses, customers respond present. “” In 2023, we were out of seven tonnes of sold a year. 2024, we came close to 20 tonnes »rejoices the farmer.
Read too Legumes, insects, new cultures … Scientists in challenge to future food systems
“” At first, everyone took us for crazy »»
With the help of local authorities, the four accomplices even set up “the legume sector” in the region and a dozen farmers have already joined them. “” At the beginning, everyone took us for crazy, all the farmers in the surrounding villages, recalls Olivier Hiss, one of the founding partners. And in fact, it is a consumption of the future within ten years coming. Already, making a new culture is true that it makes stress, but it is also a pride. You tell yourself that you have succeeded because people, they come to you slowly. »»
At the other end of the chain, the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg encourages this new local sector by serving more legumes in school canteens. “” More than half of the agricultural area of the Metropolis of Strasbourg is occupied by corn. It does not even nourish animals, it is used to make processed dishes, to make aperitif cookies, sodas. We don’t feed people with that, underlines the elected Antoine Neumann, in charge of agricultural and food issues. So there is a big issue to reproduce things that we eat and not things to promote diabetes, obesity or things like that. »»
Learning to love legumes, a source of protein, is also opening up to an alternative to meat and thus reduce the carbon footprint of your plate.
To listen in it is in your natureHuman and climate legumes