New drive to ramp up production of pulses under way in Scotland

SCOTLAND could profitably grow 15 times more peas, beans and lentils than it currently does – and moves are afoot to create the processing and marketing infrastructure that will allow these environmentally-friendly crops to proliferate.

Pulses are healthy, cheap and nutritious, and offer a substantial benefit to the environment through their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and thrive without artificial fertilisers. However, Scotland does not have a wellestablished legumes supply chain to support and encourage more growers to escape the cereals rut many have become stuck in.

To put that right, six farmers from the south and east of the country are now working with processors, wholesalers and researchers to establish a clear route to market for locally produced pulses, under the auspices of a Soil Association Scotland-led Rural Innovation Support Service group.

Group member Elizabeth Massie, of 300-acre mixed farm Pressmennan, near Dunbar, in East

Lothian, plans to put more pulses in her rotations: “Pulses aren’t that developed in Scotland yet, but to get a crop growing that requires less fertiliser, that you can sell, and is better for your soil, seems like a no brainer to me. We’ve farmed in quite a conventional way for over 50 years and have become quite cereal-based,” she admitted. “That’s our main income stream, but since we’re pouring a lot of money into fertiliser and other inputs, I felt we needed to broaden our rotation a bit more. I looked at pulses as they’re something we can put in as a combinable crop. We tried a small field of peas which went well and didn’t require any fertiliser, so I started thinking whether there were opportunities for different markets.”