Joining the first International Lathyrus Day
A crop with great promise and growing momentum.
Grasspea is a nutritious crop for resilient, regenerative agriculture - so we had the first International Lathyrus day to rally the community and bring research breakthroughs to farmers. Something touching emerged too.
Talk to anyone in grasspea research and soon one name will come up, Fernand Lambein. From the mid-80s onwards Fernand made it his mission to not only understand grasspea, but to bring together the lathyrus community to unlock this crop for resource-poor farmers.
Fernand was even said to play the lottery, in the hope that he could use the winnings to further grasspea research.
Throughout the day I heard stories of a man who would constantly welcome like-minded researchers back to his home, arrange meetings around the world and advise aid groups by using his knowledge to help protect the starving.
And in recognition of this, International Laythrus day is celebrated on Fernand’s birthday, with the first event hosted in the building he found shelter in during the second world war.
So surrounded by this, I found myself thinking on the role we have as researchers to connect and inspire others, and the legacy this can have.
But the thing that struck me is how much of this collaborative spirit exists today in grasspea research, and the potential it offers. Amidst the buzz of conversation in a room of 19 represented countries, the atmosphere was supportive and excited for the path ahead
And they should be excited. Here we have a crop that thrives when most others fall to drought, floods or salinity. It does this while offering some of the highest protein content of nearly all peas and beans and by growing it, we improve soil fertility.
So no wonder why when 2024 World Food Prize Foundation winner, Senior Bureau Official for Global Food Security Dr Cary Fowler is asked about his favourite crop, he points to grasspea.
And what’s more, thanks to John Innes Centre and The James Hutton Institute, there are an emerging number of research tools that could not only improve this pea further, but also draw on understanding grasspea’s resilience to improve other crops.
So the grasspea research community is beginning a bold new chapter, and the door is open for any who want to join this journey or stay up to date with the developments
Well done to Fernand Lambein Fund, VIB-International Plant Biotechnology Outreach (IPBO), Crop Trust and ICARDA; International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas for arranging this important event. Looking forward to the next already!