“Lupin has higher protein content, around 36 per cent versus peas in the 26 per cent range, and that’s part of the reason why there is demand for lupins.” – Dennis Lange, Manitoba Agriculture.

Making lupins work as a Prairie pulse option

Lupin trials underway at the Westman Agricultural Diversification Centre in Melita, Man.

Lupins are more common in flower gardens than fields. That could change due to growing attention in Western Canada on pulse development and plant-based protein. Why it matters: Pulses are a hot commodity given the burgeoning plant-protein market, and that includes new footholds for not-so-familiar crops. Lupins have been put to the test in crop

A lupin test plot at the Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation site at Roblin.

Lupin variety shows promise

Could be used for livestock feed, human consumption

James Frey of the Parklands Crop Diversification Foundation points at a stand of low-growing plants in a test plot south of Roblin. It’s a legume with potential as a feed crop for humans and livestock. “This is a variety called the blue lupin,” he said. “It falls out on the same lines with faba beans,


A lupin crop in bloom.

High-protein, low-starch lupin to be Canada’s next staple crop

A Protein Industries Canada-funded project will promote the crop for the Prairies

A group of four companies have plans to make pulse crop lupin a staple in Canada through a project funded by Protein Industries Canada (PIC). “Lupin is an exciting new crop for Canada that will bring new value to Canada’s plant-based food and ingredient ecosystem, benefiting the entire value chain, from farmers to end consumers,”