German partnership revives white lupin as a protein source
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Deutsche Saatveredelung AG (DSV) and Landwirtschaftliche Lehranstalten Triesdorf (LLA) in Germany collaborated to bring white lupin back from near extinction as a commercial crop.
For decades, white lupin, a potentially valuable protein source, suffered from lack of investment and vulnerability to anthracnose, a fungal disease. LLA began researching anthracnose-tolerant varieties in 2008, and DSV, a seed company, then partnered with them to develop and market the new strains. The partnership divided responsibilities.
LLA focused on early-stage breeding and genetic research, while DSV contributed trial plots, breeding expertise, and commercialisation capabilities. This arrangement allowed them to overcome a common challenge in European agriculture where private companies often avoid investing in minor crops like white lupin due to low returns. The collaboration resulted in two anthracnose-resistant varieties, Frieda and Celina, which received national registration in Germany in 2019.
In 2023, these varieties accounted for approximately 60 percent of the 25,000 hectares of white lupin grown in Germany. The success of the partnership demonstrates a model for public and private entities to work together, combining research with commercial viability, and may help expand legume cultivation in Europe to meet sustainability goals.
