Novel crops could be grown in Scotland to create an alternative source of protein, claims a leading nutritionist.
According to Dr Alexandra Johnstone – a senior research fellow at Aberdeen University’s Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health – crops such as fava bean, green pea, hemp, buckwheat and quinoa could be grown in Scotland to create an alternative source of protein to meat.
Speaking at a Women in the Field event in Aberdeen, Dr Johnstone said her research work had proven that high protein diets were successful in aiding weight loss.
While not suggesting that people gave up eating meat, she instead said consumers should go for “quality over quantity” with the option to use protein from crops as well as meat.
She discussed trials using the alternative protein crops and said work at the James Hutton Institute showed that they could be grown in Scotland.
“The work on plant protein has been funded by the Scottish Government so we do feed back the results to them,” she added.
“From an EU perspective subsidising these crops could be a way forward.”
Women in the Field is a networking group for women working in agricultural and rural sectors. More information is available by emailing womeninthefield@stronachs.com.