European Soy Industry Gathered in Ghent during most Northern Soy Field Event

Ghent (Belgium), 12 Sept 2024 – Protealis, a leading seed and seed technologies developer for high-performing legume crops in Europe, is pleased to announce its Field Day event, which was held today in Ghent, Belgium. The event brought together a wide range of soy experts, industry partners and customers from across Europe to showcase the ground-breaking advancements the company has made in developing high-performing soy varieties tailored for the colder northern European climate. While field days are a common practice in the seed industry, this particular event stood out as the northernmost soybean location in Europe. It underscores Protealis’ dedication to developing legume crops, such as soy, that are especially suited for colder climates.

Benjamin Laga, Chief Executive Officer of Protealis, states: “The growing interest from farmers across Europe to cultivate local soy underlines the increasing agricultural potential in the northern regions of the continent. With the advent of high-performance soy varieties adapted to colder climates, Europe is steadily reducing its dependence on  importing over 35 million tonnes of soy per year. Today’s Field Day, the latest and northernmost of its kind, showed that sustainable and profitable local soy production is no longer just a possibility—it’s becoming a reality.”

The expansion of soy acreage in the Europe is on the rise. According to the latest report from the Donau Soja Organization, European soy acreage is projected to increase by 14% in 2024, reaching a record 5.8 million hectares. This growth trend aligns with the introduction of new regulations in the European agricultural sector, such as the EU Deforestation Regulation effective from December 2024. This regulation mandates that food and beverage operators ensure their soy is deforestation-free, further strengthening the business case for sourcing soy locally within Europe.

Benjamin Laga, Chief Executive Officer of Protealis, continued: “The drive to cultivate local European soy is not only about reducing dependency on imports but also about harnessing the significant agronomic benefits soy offers. With its high protein content, natural nitrogen-fixing ability, and soil-enhancing properties, soy is uniquely positioned to benefit farmers. Historically, soy wasn’t considered a viable main crop due to profitability concerns. However, recent years have seen the introduction of high-performing local soy varieties that are closing this profitability gap. As a result, soy is quickly becoming the optimal choice for crop rotation among European farmers.”

Protealis was launched in April 2021 as a spin-off from the Flemish Biotech Institute (VIB) and the Institute of Agricultural, Fisheries, and Food Research (ILVO). Today, the company already has 6 soy varieties on the market and is developing innovative breeding technologies including biologicals with high performing soil bacteria for application through advanced seed coatings, and smart data capture for AI-driven breeding processes to enable the rapid development of new and high-performing soy varieties.

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More information: 
Renate Degrave
Head of Communications and Marketing Protealis
renate.degrave@protealis.com | +32 471 53 60 64

About Protealis

Protealis develops superior plant protein seeds and seed technologies, optimized for the European soil and climate. Being at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, Protealis aims to empower European farmers with sustainable and resilient alternatives to traditional protein sources by developing legume seed solutions with enhanced crop yield and protein levels, while at the same time minimizing the ecological footprint. By addressing the growing demand for more plant-based protein sources, the company is committed to contribute to more sustainable food systems. Today, Protealis is a commercial-stage company with six early maturity soy varieties on the market and is headquartered in the biotechnology cluster in Ghent, Belgium. More info on www.protealis.com, LinkedIn or facebook.

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