Extract of the article : 
« Lupins not only have protein-rich seeds, they also add diversity to crop rotations and nitrogen to the soil. However, weed pressure and anthracnose are challenges for their cultivation.
This fungal disease is seed-borne and can spread epidemically in hot, wet weather. Until recently, anthracnose made it impossible to grow white lupins. Two resistant varieties from Germany have changed all that. Frieda and Celina achieved an average yield of 30 dt/ha in trials carried out by FiBL and the organic breeding organisation Getreidezüchtung Peter Kunz GZPK.
However, they have often contained high levels of alkaloids. These are bitter substances which, in high concentrations, are hazardous to health.
FiBL is working to develop resistant white lupin varieties with lower alkaloid levels. It is supported by the OFAG and through collaboration with EU projects. At the same time, the LiveSeeding and Divinfood projects are proposing methods for identifying suitable varieties more quickly.
FiBL currently recommends growing narrow-leaved lupins of the Regent, Homer or Jowisz varieties on farms that cannot conclude a cultivation contract ».

Christine Arncken, FiBL

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