Rotundo, Jose L, Marshall, Rachel, McCormick, Ryan, Truong, Sandra K, Styles, David, Gerde, Jose A, Gonzalez-Escobar, Emmanuel, Carmo-Silva, Elizabete, Janes-Bassett, Victoria 
ORCID: 0000-0002-4882-6202, Logue, Jennifer et al (show 15 more authors)
(2024)
European soybean to benefit people and the environment.
Scientific reports, 14 (1).
7612-.
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Rotundo et al 2024 Scientific Reports.pdf - Open Access published version Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Europe imports large amounts of soybean that are predominantly used for livestock feed, mainly sourced from Brazil, USA and Argentina. In addition, the demand for GM-free soybean for human consumption is project to increase. Soybean has higher protein quality and digestibility than other legumes, along with high concentrations of isoflavones, phytosterols and minerals that enhance the nutritional value as a human food ingredient. Here, we examine the potential to increase soybean production across Europe for livestock feed and direct human consumption, and review possible effects on the environment and human health. Simulations and field data indicate rainfed soybean yields of 3.1 ± 1.2 t ha<sup>-1</sup> from southern UK through to southern Europe (compared to a 3.5 t ha<sup>-1</sup> average from North America). Drought-prone southern regions and cooler northern regions require breeding to incorporate stress-tolerance traits. Literature synthesized in this work evidenced soybean properties important to human nutrition, health, and traits related to food processing compared to alternative protein sources. While acknowledging the uncertainties inherent in any modelling exercise, our findings suggest that further integrating soybean into European agriculture could reduce GHG emissions by 37-291 Mt CO<sub>2e</sub> year<sup>-1</sup> and fertiliser N use by 0.6-1.2 Mt year<sup>-1</sup>, concurrently improving human health and nutrition.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Humans, Fabaceae, Agriculture, Europe, Plant Breeding, Glycine max |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Apr 2024 12:59 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Apr 2024 02:59 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-024-57522-z |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3180077 |
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