Veggie food sales have increased significantly in recent years and new tasty substitutes for meat are emerging all the time. But is it enough and what other alternatives are there?
Elin Röös, associate senior lecturer at SLU, says in an article that there is probably no product that is worse for the climate than meat. This of course makes it gratifying that sales of vegetarian and vegan products are increasing. But according to Elin, it would be best if we chose those crops that can be harvested on a small area with as little input as possible, such as cereals, legumes, root vegetables and fruit. However, we should stay away from tropical fruits such as avocados, pineapples and coconuts.
Many of the tropical products are grown in regions with very high biodiversity. It is very unfortunate to cut off such regions," says Elin.
Soy mince, veggie sausages and other meat substitutes are popular, but these products have a higher climate impact than eating beans directly, for example. The good thing about these substitutes is that they do not reach the climate impact of meat. Vegan products can in some cases approach chicken in terms of climate impact.
Beans fix their own nitrogen
We also find Elin in an interview in TV4 Nyhetsmorgon where she makes a case for Swedish beans. In the interview we learn that legumes can, together with the bacteria in the soil, fix their own nitrogen from the air. There is no need to fertilize the legumes, which is very positive because the production and use of nitrogen fertilizer leads to greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, legumes have a long shelf life, which means you rarely have to throw them away.
There is actually a large variety of Swedish beans, in addition to the classic brown beans and yellow peas, there are many different types of garden beans and field beans. Unfortunately, many of the beans are used for animal feed instead of us eating them directly ourselves.
It's time for the bean renaissance!
Elin believes that the bean's somewhat boring status is because it is and has been a bit of a "poor man's food", but now she wants a renaissance for the bean as it is a fantastic food!
In the clip, we also get tips on different products that can be produced from Swedish legumes, including tempeh, which is a fermented product and can be made from field beans, for example. It is also possible to make flour from beans, which is perfect for baking or making pasta, thus increasing the nutritional value of the products. Legumes are protein-rich, climate-smart, packed with vitamins and nutrients, making them a great alternative to animal products. They are also good for your wallet.
Today we grow about 2% of arable land in Sweden with legumes. In particular, beans work perfectly as a break crop as they fix nitrogen, which means that little nitrogen is left in the soil. By growing legumes between cereal crops on the same land, you do not need to fertilize as much.
Elin's favorite that she wants to promote is the Swedish grey pea, which is very similar to the chickpea, but the beauty of the grey pea is that it can be grown in Sweden. Most of the legumes in our stores today are imported, which is a shame, so Elin urges us as consumers to start demanding the Swedish beans!
