Local plant protein trial launched in Wales

The Farming Connect initiative, backed by the Welsh government, has supported a trial for large-scale legume production on a 40-hectare council-owned farm in Carmarthenshire.

Located at Bremenda Isaf Farm, a former livestock operation, the trial was initiated to investigate the feasibility of growing plant protein locally for public sector consumption, including in schools.

Carmarthenshire County Council is undertaking a menu overhaul that focuses on food sourcing and sustainability, replacing items that could be sourced more locally.

The Bwyd Sir Gâr Food partnership, which is part of the trial, stated that the project aims to showcase that farmers can grow high-quality plant proteins and cereals suited to the local climate.

The partnership’s coordinator Augusta Lewis remarked: “If we can do all of that on one farm, other farmers can do it as well.”

With assistance from Farming Connect’s Advisory Service, a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) was conducted to assess the nutrient status of the soil on this former livestock farm.

Augusta noted: “It’s really important to have that insight first up.” Soil testing revealed that the farm’s deep alluvial soils are exceptionally fertile.

She added: “The NMP came back revealing some very interesting data in relation to our soils, which very much changed the plans.

“The soils are very high in phosphorus, which you would expect from historic slurry application, so we do not have a fertility problem here at all.

“As we have learned more about soil, we understand that high phosphorus levels potentially lock up other nutrients.

“In terms of crop health and vitality, we are looking at creating a balance, which means no additional inputs for the time being, apart from lime to raise pH.”

The farm also benefited from a mentoring service, receiving guidance from Marina O’Connell and Rachel Phillips of the Apricot Centre in Devon, a stacked mixed enterprise that Bremenda Isaf aspires to follow.

Organic grower Iain Tolhurst has also provided advice on large-scale production and is developing a rotation plan for the farm.

Bremenda Isaf is in the process of obtaining organic certification, although it has already been adhering to those principles.

The trial investigated which legumes thrive in the west Wales climate, with Carlin and Daytona peas being cultivated.

Some legumes were intercropped with heritage wheat varieties, April Bearded and Malika, to assess benefits for soil health.

The trial encountered significant challenges due to unprecedented rainfall prior to establishment.

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Augusta explained: “We had an extremely unprecedented wet winter, and that meant our tenant grazier was unable to get on the land to take off the silage, and lime application was delayed.”

This situation delayed the planting of wheat and legumes until early June, she added.

“It was very late, but we decided that we would plant anyway in the spirit that we will learn something, and we really have learned a lot.

“There is a lot of risk involved with growing cereals; people who have been in the game for a very long time can have a disastrous season if it is exceptionally wet or dry. But the great thing about doing trial-size plots is that the risk is not too great.”

She reported a poor germination rate in the Daytona peas, and harvesting of the crops will occur very late, if at all.

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However, soil and quadrat sampling will yield valuable insights into any impacts the intercropping may have had on soil biomass levels.

She added: “We have learned a tremendous amount about the growing habits of these varieties, and we are confident that even over one growing season, we will begin to see how intercropping can make a difference to soil health.”