On 25 June 2026, students attending a lecture on medicinal and aromatic plants at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Straubing, Lower Bavaria, visited the ESKUSA lupin trials. Lupins are part of the programme because they can contain high levels of alkaloids. Sparteine, an alkaloid found in white lupin, is used as an active ingredient in medicines for heart failure. During the tour, Fred Eickmeyer, leader of the lupin innovation community in Legume Generation, introduced the students to the diversity of genetic resources and highlighted selected pathogens and different growth types. He also encouraged them to look beyond their particular interests and consider other important agronomic traits.
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Acknowledgement
Legume Generation (Boosting innovation in breeding for the next generation of legume crops for Europe) has received funding from the European Union through Horizon Europe under grant agreement No 101081329 and co-funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) from the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee. It also receives support from the governments of Switzerland and New Zealand.
