Legumes for sustainable food system and healthy life

Leg4Life project consortium will produce crucial scientific knowledge on the potential on shifting towards healthier and sustainable food system in Finland by increasing the cultivation of legumes and promoting their consumption. The new knowledge on eco-friendlier farming techniques and development of grain legumes contributes the decision making in agricultural and food policy and promotes a fairer support system, strengthening the position of farmers in the food chain, and resulting in new export opportunities for Finnish food companies.

The project outputs include a) new agricultural practices to produce legume grains and reduce the environmental strains of food production, b) innovations in designing legume foods with improved nutritional quality, c) knowledge on the health impacts of legume foods, d) understanding consumer behaviour and the measures needed to change it to increase legume consumption, and e) environmental and social sustainability and cost-benefit assessments to promote the shift to the legume-supported food system.