by PressProduction of beans, peas, and lupine increased in Germany
Bean production quadrupled compared to 2013
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the production of beans in Germany has quadrupled in the last 10 years. In 2022, the harvest reached a mark of 246 thousand tons, the legume grew on an area of 71 thousand hectares, which is also four times the area sown in 2013.
The pea harvest in 2022 was 322,000 tons, a figure that does not include fresh peas. In 10 years, the increase in the production of legumes was recorded at 148%. German farmers achieved these results mainly thanks to the expansion of sown areas — their area for 10 years increased to 107 thousand hectares, which is almost 3 times more than at the beginning of the decade.
Lupine production also increased and amounted to 56 thousand tons, and the sown area expanded to 32 thousand hectares.
Soybean cultivation is becoming more and more profitable for German farmers. Its harvest amounted to 128 thousand tons, which is three times higher than in 2016.
As for rapeseed, its production may decline as a result of government bans on the production of biofuels from crops. Approximately 50% of the oilseed crop is used to produce environmentally friendly fuel. Approximately 3 million gallons of biodiesel are blended with traditional carbon feedstocks each year to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. One of the components of the eco-product is shredded rapeseed, which is also used to make livestock feed. Experts note that if the use of oilseed rape is banned, many farmers will abandon it, negatively affecting the cost of the crop and its availability to the livestock industry. In addition, it is likely that exports of rapeseed will increase, which will also have a negative impact on the domestic market.
The authors of the project believe that it is more efficient to produce biofuel not from crops, but from garbage, waste, and cooking oil. Opponents of the initiative, however, are certain that these components will not be produced in sufficient quantities to meet all production needs.
Although the authorities have not yet reached a unanimous decision, the option of gradually reducing the use of rapeseed in biofuels by 2030 is also being considered.
It should be noted that Germany, as the country with the strongest economy and the largest population in the EU, has a significant influence on the formation of agricultural processes in the Community. Therefore, we can expect that other countries will want to reconsider the specifics of biofuel production. Experts note that at the moment there are no good reasons for local farmers to reduce the cultivation of rapeseed.