Reviving a Neglected Crop: A Case Study on Lentil ( Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris ) Cultivation in Germany

Theresa M. Reif, Sabine Zikeli, Ann-Marleen Rieps, Carina P. Lang, Jens Hartung and Sabine Gruber
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Theresa M. Reif: Institute of Crop Science, Department Agronomy, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Sabine Zikeli: Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Center for Organic Farming, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Ann-Marleen Rieps: Institute of Crop Science, Department Agronomy, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Carina P. Lang: Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Center for Organic Farming, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Jens Hartung: Institute of Crop Science, Department of Biostatistics, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Sabine Gruber: Institute of Crop Science, Department Agronomy, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Cultivation of lentils had ended by mid-20th century in Germany, but a revival was initiated in the first decade of this millennium in Southwest Germany. However, knowledge of lentil cultivation was almost lost, and today’s yields are still low. To gain an overview of current farm practices and of factors that can help lentil cultivation thrive, 25 lentil farmers (21 organic, 4 conventional) from SW Germany answered questionnaires for agronomic data on lentil cultivation in the years 2015, 2016, and 2017. Eleven farmers took part in additional semi-structured interviews about their motivation and the most important factors (economic, ecological, and social) that encouraged them to grow lentils. Neither the lentil variety (Anicia, Späth’s Alblinse I and II), nor the companion crop for the usual mixed cropping (spring barley, oat, and camelina), significantly influenced lentil yield. If lentil cultivation is to further expand, data from more farmers could be evaluated and factors that contribute to crop thriving analyzed more clearly. The cultivation techniques currently practiced are diverse, and lentils integrate well into existing structures. Farmers appear motivated to grow lentils by good examples of colleagues, by availability of marketing channels, and by the desire to promote lentils’ ecological and social benefits.

Keywords: pulses; mixed cropping; organic farming; neglected crops; reintroduction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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