On 1 November 2026, research institutions and federal agencies are highlighting the contribution of plant proteins to Germany’s climate footprint. They agree that pulses such as lentils, peas and beans can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, land use and pressure from nitrogen, provided they are grown more widely and eaten more often. At the same time, recent analyses show that production and consumption in Germany remain well below expert recommendations.
The Thünen Institute points to agronomic and environmental benefits: pulses fix nitrogen from the air, improve soil fertility and can reduce the use of mineral nitrogen fertiliser in crop rotations. This makes them suitable for both organic and conventional farms seeking to reduce emissions and excess nutrients. In food policy, they are considered key components of a sustainable diet. The German Nutrition Society recommends regularly including pulses in the diet; actual consumption in Germany, however, remains below this level.
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture reports growing activity along the value chain. Funded initiatives such as the LINSE Project are examining how lentils, peas, beans and lupins can be incorporated into the Gemeinschaftsverpflegung First results point to potential in nurseries, schools and workplace canteens, but also identify structural obstacles: limited availability of locally grown produce, a lack of processing capacity and the need for practical recipes.
On the demand side, consumer advice centres and educational institutions point to barriers including low awareness, the perceived effort involved in preparation and price comparisons with animal products. Experts therefore propose coordinated action: targeted support for growing pulses in regional crop rotations, investment in cleaning, drying and processing, recipe development for large-scale catering, and information on how to use them in cooking.
A gradual shift in diets could change how land is used. Model calculations suggest that the share of land used for animal feed would fall, while arable farming and plant protein production would expand. This would affect farming models, livestock numbers and regional value creation, and would require political support. One thing is clear: replacing some animal protein with locally grown pulses can reduce emissions in the short term and increase soil resilience over the long term. The scale of the effects, however, depends on the pace of structural change and investment in logistics and processing. The proposed measures aim to maximise climate and environmental benefits without jeopardising the economic viability of agriculture in Germany.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).