VALPRO Path Practice Abstract: A Data-Driven Decision Platform for Protein Crop Variety Selection

The decision on which protein crop variety to grow can have a significant impact on yield and nutritional quality as well as crop performance in varying climates. However, for the choice of varieties for diverse production systems and use, farmers may need additional information beyond yield performance. A data-driven decision support platform for protein crop variety selection is therefore presented in this practice abstract from VALPRO Path partner Aarhus University.

The Problem 

Despite a drive to increase the production of plant-based proteins, the selection of suitable crop varieties in Europe remains a challenge. Depending on their growing environment, varieties can show very different performance characteristics. However, the nutritional composition and possible end use also play a role in the selection. Therefore, farmers need to be provided with reliable information that combines information on agronomic performance with nutritional characteristics. Without such an overview, variety selection may be driven by one characteristic, such as yield potential, while other aspects, such as suitability for a particular set of growing conditions or end use, are overlooked.

How the Decision Support Platform Helps

The VALPRO Path decision support platform integrates agronomic performance data with information on nutritional composition to support farmers in variety selection. Based on the data generated in the multi-country trials, the platform can provide insights into the performance of varieties in terms of yield, protein content, and climatic growing conditions. In this way, it enables farmers to obtain an overview of the agronomic performance of a variety in different regions as well as its nutritional characteristics. This supports the selection of varieties based on a combination of characteristics rather than focusing on a single characteristic, such as yield. In addition, the platform can support the identification of varieties that are better adapted to particular climatic conditions based on multienvironment data.

Benefits

• Smarter Variety Selection: Farmers can compare varieties based on a range of characteristics, including yield performance.
• Improved Agronomic Performance: The selection can be made with consideration of the potential of the variety in specific regional growing conditions.
• Climate-Adapted Crop Production: The comparison of varieties in different environments can support the selection of varieties better adapted to local climate conditions.
• Increased Production of Protein Crops: The improved selection can contribute to improved protein crop production in different regions.
• Bridging the Gap Between Research and Farming: Scientific findings on the agronomic performance and nutritional characteristics of varieties are translated into practical information for farmers.

Farmers can use the information provided in the platform to compare the potential of varieties in terms of yield performance, nutritional composition and adaptation to specific growing conditions. In this way, they can identify the best-performing varieties for their region as well as those with the best nutritional characteristics. In addition, variety comparison can help to promote the diversification of protein crop production and to identify varieties that are more resilient to changing climatic conditions.

By generating an overview of the performance of varieties in different environments and combining this information with data on nutritional characteristics, the platform can support farmers in the selection of varieties based on multiple criteria. This contributes to improved decision-making in variety selection for protein crops.  In the context of increased efforts to increase the self-sufficiency in plant proteins, this type of information can support farmers in selecting varieties that are not only high yielding but also better adapted to local growing conditions.

Find out how the data-driven decision support platform can help you in the selection of protein crop varieties. Read the full Practice Abstract below.