One of the aims of the project is to increase the profitability of protein crops at farm level. Specific on-farm technologies will be evaluated in terms of their feasibility and sustainability. Some of these technologies include the drying, cleaning and deshelling/dehulling of protein crops on farm. For example in Portugal one of our partners is working with a group of peanut farmers to evaluate the use of a peanut deshelling machine which both adds value for the peanut seed prior to sale and also contributes to a circular economy by enabling the re-use of peanut shells as an organic fertiliser.
The extraction of plant protein into isolate form will be further tested off farm.