:ProtYield

PROJECT TITLE:PROTEIN CONTENT Vs YIELD IN

LEGUMES : RELEASING THE CONSTRAINT

Sustainable Protein Production

• The Technology Strategy Board, in partnership with Defra & BBSRC, launched a collaborative R&D competition with up to £15 million available to invest in projects focusing on the challenge of sustainable protein production.

Sustainable Protein Production

• Increasing domestic supply of sustainably produced vegetable protein for farmed animals (including land and marine based aquaculture)

• As global demand for animal products increases, demand for vegetable proteins as animal feedstock also rises. The UK faces a shortfall in domestic vegetable protein production capability, which needs to be challenged.

ProtYield Project Structure

• Total project cost around £950,000• Co-funded by the Technology Strategy

Board, in partnership with Defra and BBSRC

• Funding equally matched by industry partners

• Project duration 48 months

ProtYield - Project Partners

What does the project aim to achieve?

• Identify fast neutron-mutagenised pea lines with improved protein digestibility and yield

• Analyse current variation for yield and protein in commercial pea cultivars and understand the genetics of these traits

• Establish a fast neutron-mutagenised population in faba bean (Vicia faba) to broaden genetic variation within this crop

ProtYield aims to

• Improve the relationship between protein content and yield in pulses

• Identify genes underlying protein and yield

• Increase the utilisation of pulses in animal feed through targeted plant breeding