The aim of the LeguTec project is to further develop and promote the cultivation and use of legumes in Lower Saxony through holistic utilization concepts for all parts of the plants. Currently, cultivation is aimed exclusively at grain production. The by-products, such as pods and stems, are not used but are chopped up as evenly as possible during harvesting. If all parts of the plant can be used, this creates an additional economic incentive for farmers to cultivate these plants.

As part of the project, harvesting and residue utilization concepts are to be developed specifically for each type of legume. To this end, the two largest legume species, peas and field beans, will first be cultivated and harvested. In addition, exemplary transferability for soy and sweet lupins will be determined.

After successful harvesting of the legume residues, these are to be processed into new raw materials for various areas of application and used, for example, as reinforcing materials, fillers, and/or additives or functionalization for bio-based plastic composites. The focus is on processing by means of extrusion and injection molding into wood plastic composites or natural fiber composites. Finally, the materials will undergo a life cycle assessment to demonstrate the sustainability potential of this approach.

• Project title: Legu-Tec - Holistic use of leguminous plants in technical applications
• Project partner: Holzmühle Westerkamp GmbH, Agricultural business C. Habermann
• Funding: Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen im Rahmen der Europäischen Innovationspartnerschaft „Produktivität und Nachhaltigkeit in der Landwirtschaft“ (EIP Agri)
• Project management: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andrea Siebert-Raths
• Duration: 10.06.2025 - 15.12.2028