Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) Cropping and its opportunities for Europe

The Andean lupin, Lupinus mutabilis, is one of the four lupin species which is suitable for human consumption. The Andean lupin originates from South-America where it has been part of the menu for thousands of years. The other three lupin species originate from the Middle East, Southern Europe and North Africa. These lupins are the White, Yellow and the Blue (narrow-leaved) lupins. Andean lupin is like the soy bean high in oil and protein content and therefore has the potential to be a good alternative to many soy bean applications. The objective of the LIBBIO project is to introduce Andean lupin to Europe, as a new crop for food and non-food applications. Andean lupin has the advantages that it grows on marginal soils, makes its own nitrogen fertilizer from air by natural symbiosis with bacteria and, when harvested, has nutritious beans, rich in proteins, vegetable oil and prebiotics. Andean lupin oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and high in antioxidants and Vitamin-E (tocopherol), thereby contributing to a healthy menu.