Fascination of Plants Day: Celebrating the vital role of legumes in Europe’s past and future
On 18 May, the global scientific community marks the Fascination of Plants Day, an initiative highlighting the essential role of plants in our lives, from food and feed to environmental sustainability and innovation.
EU-funded sister projects Legume Generation and BELIS take this opportunity to celebrate legumes: a diverse group of crops that have shaped European agriculture and diets for centuries and remain key to building a more sustainable future.
Legumes such as lentils and faba beans have long been part of European farming systems. As exploration and trade expanded, new species like common bean from America and soybean from Asia were introduced, enriching both agriculture and nutrition across the continent.
