This section includes:

Spring Peas, Winter Peas, Spring Beans, Winter Beans, Soya Beans and Lupins.

The Pulses Market.
The UK market for pulses (excluding Vining Peas and Forage Peas) is estimated to be in the region of 1.8 million tonnes per annum. This is somewhat above the 900,000 tonnes that are annually produced in this country. The combined pea and bean acreage in total are less than 200,000Ha. Peas and beans have a number of niche markets. However, by still the largest part of production is for the livestock protein market. Globally only about half the world's pea and bean production goes to livestock feed and is dwarfed by the large amount of oilseeds grown for this market, where Soya Bean is the main contributor.
UK bean and pea prices tend to fluctuate between 55% and 65% of Soya meal prices due to their % protein level (22%-28%) when compared with Soya (44-48%). Beans have a higher protein content than peas but they are more difficult to feed. This reflects in their value and consequently the price of beans and feed peas are very similar.
The recent concerns over BSE and GM crops have led to numerous supermarkets aiming to supply meat that has come from animals that have been fed GM free feed. Given the fact that peas and beans are undisputedly GM free, there seems to be scope for expansion in the home market, opportunities to replace imports and even develop an export trade with these crops.

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