Pilgrim’s Europe: How Legumes Can Cut Farming Emissions

Pilgrim’s Europe, a UK and European food company, has more than 40 facilities across the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands.

Its operations focus on producing quality food products in a sustainable way through strategic partnerships with farmers across its supply chains.

Working together with key industry stakeholders, Pilgrim’s Europe is trialling a project to optimise nitrogen from legumes in order to reduce farming emissions.

Three new legume species

The Nitrogen Utilisation Efficiency of Legumes (NUE-Leg) project aims to eliminate the UK’s dependence on applied nitrogen fertilisers in grassland farming.

The project is funded by DEFRA and Innovate UK, combining scientific research with on-farm trials and sharing knowledge between farmers and food industry leaders.

This involves the trial of three specially designed legume species – red clover, hybrid white clover and Birdsfoot Trefoil – which are each bred to address specific challenges in sustainable grassland management.

The companies involved in the project are working in partnership with Dr Christina Marley, who leads the Agricultural Systems Research Group at Aberystwyth University.

One main aim of the project is to enable farms to use clover to fix up to 300kg of nitrogen per hectare of farmland per year.

Daniel Owen, Lamb Supply Chain Development Manager at Pilgrim’s Europe, says: “The aim of this trial is to reduce inorganic nitrogen requirements while boosting productivity and cutting on-farm emissions.

“The results so far have been extremely promising.

“Our ultimate ambition is to enhance business productivity and profitability, while strengthening sustainability credentials and supporting producers in meeting their future environmental commitments.”

What is the NUE-Leg project?

The NUE-Leg project brings together key players in the agricultural industry, including Germinal, IBERS Aberystwyth University, The James Hutton Institute, LEAF, Agrecalc, Origin, Dovecote Park and Muller, as well as Pilgrim’s Europe.

With a growing population, the UK livestock agriculture sector must increase its efficiency of production while reducing its environmental impacts.

According to NUE-Leg, greenhouse gas emissions must reduce by 78% by 2035, with the livestock industry seeking net zero by 2050 against increasing energy and input costs.

To reduce emissions, more herbage protein should be converted into meat and milk.

NUE-Leg aims to address this challenge by developing technological solutions to reduce environmental impacts while enhancing the economics and sustainability of grassland farming.

Dafydd Parry Jones, organic beef and sheep farmer at Maesllwyni, a trial farm who has supplied Pilgrim’s Europe lamb for more than 20 years, says: “Being part of the NUE-Leg project has been a real eye-opener. 

“I’m very excited to learn more about the new varieties that could generate a positive impact on my farming system in the future.

“It’s not just about trials in a field – it’s about finding solutions that work for farmers day-to-day, helping us build more resilient, productive systems that are better for the environment too.”

All sustainability, net zero and sustainable supply chain leaders should attend:

• Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit - QEII Centre, London, March 4-5
• Sustainability LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22

Co-located with Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE, these events brings together CSOs, ESG leaders and senior decision-makers at a moment when sustainability, supply chains and commercial performance are increasingly interconnected.

Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available.

Building sustainable supply chains

Pilgrim’s Europe’s involvement in the NUE-Leg project works alongside its participation in Breed4Change.

This initiative involves breeding efficient maternal sheep with a naturally lower carbon footprint.

Through this project, a new breeding approach is being developed to help reduce agricultural emissions and enhance soil health.

Breed4Change is also helping to build resilience across Pilgrim’s Europe’s UK supply chain.

The company focuses on sustainable food production, through improvements in packaging, climate action, water use, transport and logistics, supplier engagement and land management.

Its aim is to use its scale to make a difference and to promote the adoption of sustainable practices across its value chain to deliver positive impact.