LemnaPro

Methodology and expected results

LemnaPro is an agricultural project that aims to introduce water lentils as a new protein crop on a larger scale in Flanders. Specifically, we aim to realise this objective by:

• Studying and optimising water lentil cultivation and harvesting by means of company-specific installations for both animal feed and food applications.
• Developing a user-friendly tool to estimate the economic profitability of water lentil cultivation.
• Optimising the drying process and protein extraction, and analysing the nutritional and functional properties of the resulting protein powder and extract.
• Developing a protein-rich water lentil burger.
• Testing the different silage techniques and the optimisation of feed pellets using water lentils.
• Gathering knowledge about legislation on the use of water lentils in food and animal feed.
• Providing advice to interested farmers and market gardeners and supporting food companies in product development.

Target group

The project is primarily aimed at

• Market gardeners with vacant greenhouses or who wish to diversify
• Pig farmers with secondary manure treatment
• Aquaculture farms

And also:

• Feed producers
• Producers of meat and meat alternatives
• Ingredient suppliers

Through the LemnaPro project we aim to develop valuable practical knowledge on the cultivation of water lentils in Flanders, which will be published in a handy and easy-to-use cultivation manual. We would also like to research the processing options for water lentils so that we can inspire food and feed companies to start working with water lentils by means of interesting brochures and workshops.

Project partners

Flanders’ FOOD manages and coordinates the project. The project is executed by:

• Inagro, led by Reindert Devlamynck (reindert.devlamynck@ugent.be)
• Ghent University: Ecochem - Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry under the direction of Prof Erik Meers (erik.meers@ugent.be)
• Ghent University: VEG-i-TEC (Kortrijk) under the direction of Prof Katleen Raes (katleen.raes@ugent.be)
• Ghent University: Laboratory of Cereal and Feed Technology under the direction of Prof Mia Eeckhout (Mia.eeckhout@ugent.be)
• VIVES University College: The Food research group of the Expertise Centre Agro and Biotechnology led by Project Manager An Callens (an.callens@vives.be)

Keen to join?

The project started on 1 November 2021 and runs until 31 October 2025 (project duration: 4 years). Partners are still welcome to join until the end of the project. The results can be requested and accessed at the end of the project (against a fee).

If you are interested, please contact the project manager.