This will be demonstrated by raising broilers and pigs on a soy free diet.Research approachThrough a consultation process with feed manufacturers, feeds will be formulated using available and best suited European protein sources. The aim is to maintain production results. This soy-free diet will be fed to broiler chickens and pigs.
Soy free chicken and pig production
Soy is hot. This crop is regularly used in animal feed in Flanders and consumers are also increasingly looking for protein alternatives in the form of soy drinks, puddings, and burgers. But the impact of soy imports on our environment is also a trending topic.
Soy Soy? Soy is a subtropical, annual, leguminous plant. The beans of the plant are made up of almost 20% oil and a little less than 80% dry matter, of which about half are proteins. Worldwide, it is one of the most important crops, with South America and the USA as the largest producers.
Soy
Colruyt Group and partners pioneer organic soy growing in Belgium
ILVO and partners have started an innovative production concept for locally-grown organic soy.
Quinoa, soy, chickpea, dry beans...and the parched field of 2022: results
Quinoa, soy, chickpea and dry bean, intended for the human food chain, are hardly grown in our region at present, if at all. But they represent promising new agricultural crops in ILVO's cultivation and/or breeding research.
New digital 3D growth model soy now more powerful with water availability factor added
For the first time, the 'water availability' factor has been added to the factor of photosynthesis in a digital 3D plant model for soy growth.
Workshop: Soy in Flanders?! (how) Did it become a success story and what lessons can we draw for other new crops?
Although soy is cultivated still on a small scale in Flanders, ten years of research and development has shown its potential: Cultivation is technically possibleSoy needs little to none fertilization because it can fix atmospheric Nitrogen Soy in crop rotation has clear benefits in terms of sustainabilityAll the necessary players for the cultivation
Lectures by a variety of experts on the introduction of soy as an innovative crop and food ingredient in Flanders; Panel discussion: what lessons can we learn for other new crops?; Network lunch; (optional) Field trip: visit the ILVO soy fields and new protein processing line at Food Pilot
Main research questionIs it possible to introduce soybean production in Flanders in an economical and sustainable way? Flanders is highly dependent from import of soy from Latin America. This import is rising not only social and ecological questions, but the economic impact for the Flemish farmers is high due to volatile and high prices.
Main research questionStarting up the local cultivation and processing of sustainable organic soy for food presents a major challenge for Flanders. Particular hurdles are scaling up to (organic) practice and developing a stable sales market.
Main research questionThe aim of this Grand Challenge project is to engage at least 1000 citizens and their gardens to help acquire native rhizobia from Flemish soils that are able to efficiently nodulate soybean. We wish to find local soilborne bacteria and funghi that are able to form nodules on soybean plants.