A new project to research new varieties of peas is hoping that it will reduce the UK’s reliance on imported soya.
The £1 million project is being run by grass and forage seed specialists and breeders, Germinal in collaboration with IBERS at Aberystwyth University. The programme is part-funded by Defra’s Farming Innovation Pathway via Innovate UK, which is part of UK Research and Innovation.
Part of the research will involve developing flavourless pea varieties in order for pea protein to be used in human food to replace soya. Over 3 million tonnes of Soya was imported in 2022 for use in animal and human foods.