Assessing crop production and rotation economically, environmentally and nutritionally in the Republic of Ireland
The importance of finding alternative protein sources to partially replace dietary meat intake has been emphasised. A comparison of different plant-based protein sources, namely cereals (wheat, barley, oats), brassicas (oilseed rape) and legumes (peas, beans), in terms of economic, environmental and...
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research |
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| Online Access: | https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/ijafr-2023-0116 |
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| author | M. Merlo C. Buckley T. Hennessy J. O’Mahony |
| author_facet | M. Merlo C. Buckley T. Hennessy J. O’Mahony |
| author_sort | M. Merlo |
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| description | The importance of finding alternative protein sources to partially replace dietary meat intake has been emphasised. A comparison of different plant-based protein sources, namely cereals (wheat, barley, oats), brassicas (oilseed rape) and legumes (peas, beans), in terms of economic, environmental and nutritional metrics, would help identify optimal strategies for protein production. Due to potential complementarity in a crop rotation production system, including cereals, brassicas and legumes should be investigated as a potential action for stakeholders. This study focuses on the Republic of Ireland, an interesting case study given the limited share of legumes in arable land despite somewhat favourable bio-physical conditions and an increased emphasis on crop rotation financial support under the latest Irish Common Agricultural Policy strategic plan. Our results indicate that legume production is more efficient than oilseed rape and cereal production in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and protein yield, but legumes’ gross margin per hectare is less that of cereals. Greenhouse gas emissions per 100 g of protein is also lower for legumes compared to other crops. All scenarios modelled enhanced crop rotations in Ireland and led to an increase in gross margin and protein yield, as well as a decrease in GHG emissions per hectare. Crop rotations including cereals, legumes and brassicas have the potential to support agricultural GHG emissions reduction in Ireland. To realise these benefits, public policies should address the barriers to protein crop production such as the lack of market outlets. Rewarding the agronomic risks associated with legume production should also be emphasised. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-11d5066e189241618441a71a50b8f793 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2009-9029 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-11d5066e189241618441a71a50b8f7932025-01-10T13:51:02ZengCompuscript LtdIrish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research2009-90292025-01-0163110111710.15212/ijafr-2023-0116Assessing crop production and rotation economically, environmentally and nutritionally in the Republic of IrelandM. Merlo0C. Buckley1T. Hennessy2J. O’Mahony3Department of Food Business & Development, Cork University Business School, University College Cork, County Cork, IrelandAgricultural Economics & Farm Surveys Department, Rural Economy & Development Programme, Teagasc, Mellows Campus, Athenry, County Galway, IrelandDepartment of Food Business & Development, Cork University Business School, University College Cork, County Cork, IrelandSchool of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, County Cork, IrelandThe importance of finding alternative protein sources to partially replace dietary meat intake has been emphasised. A comparison of different plant-based protein sources, namely cereals (wheat, barley, oats), brassicas (oilseed rape) and legumes (peas, beans), in terms of economic, environmental and nutritional metrics, would help identify optimal strategies for protein production. Due to potential complementarity in a crop rotation production system, including cereals, brassicas and legumes should be investigated as a potential action for stakeholders. This study focuses on the Republic of Ireland, an interesting case study given the limited share of legumes in arable land despite somewhat favourable bio-physical conditions and an increased emphasis on crop rotation financial support under the latest Irish Common Agricultural Policy strategic plan. Our results indicate that legume production is more efficient than oilseed rape and cereal production in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and protein yield, but legumes’ gross margin per hectare is less that of cereals. Greenhouse gas emissions per 100 g of protein is also lower for legumes compared to other crops. All scenarios modelled enhanced crop rotations in Ireland and led to an increase in gross margin and protein yield, as well as a decrease in GHG emissions per hectare. Crop rotations including cereals, legumes and brassicas have the potential to support agricultural GHG emissions reduction in Ireland. To realise these benefits, public policies should address the barriers to protein crop production such as the lack of market outlets. Rewarding the agronomic risks associated with legume production should also be emphasised.https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/ijafr-2023-0116crop rotationplant-based proteinprotein efficiency |
| spellingShingle | M. Merlo C. Buckley T. Hennessy J. O’Mahony Assessing crop production and rotation economically, environmentally and nutritionally in the Republic of Ireland Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research crop rotation plant-based protein protein efficiency |
| title | Assessing crop production and rotation economically, environmentally and nutritionally in the Republic of Ireland |
| title_full | Assessing crop production and rotation economically, environmentally and nutritionally in the Republic of Ireland |
| title_fullStr | Assessing crop production and rotation economically, environmentally and nutritionally in the Republic of Ireland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing crop production and rotation economically, environmentally and nutritionally in the Republic of Ireland |
| title_short | Assessing crop production and rotation economically, environmentally and nutritionally in the Republic of Ireland |
| title_sort | assessing crop production and rotation economically environmentally and nutritionally in the republic of ireland |
| topic | crop rotation plant-based protein protein efficiency |
| url | https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/ijafr-2023-0116 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mmerlo assessingcropproductionandrotationeconomicallyenvironmentallyandnutritionallyintherepublicofireland AT cbuckley assessingcropproductionandrotationeconomicallyenvironmentallyandnutritionallyintherepublicofireland AT thennessy assessingcropproductionandrotationeconomicallyenvironmentallyandnutritionallyintherepublicofireland AT jomahony assessingcropproductionandrotationeconomicallyenvironmentallyandnutritionallyintherepublicofireland |