Chickpea value chain with AICF Agro Inovação S.A. (Alentejo, Portugal)

The grain legumes production is currently an important priority for European and Portuguese agriculture, because, in addition to environmental reasons, there are economic reasons - source of protein and energy for animal feed and human consumption, (whose consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental costs of production, the health, demanding tasty, convenient foods and that offer nutritional benefits).

Chickpea is found in this group of crops, and is the most cultivated grain legume in Portugal. The company AICF Agro Inovação S.A., in 2013, launched the concept of organizing a value chain of chickpea in Portugal, taking advantage of the fact that there is a Portuguese variety - ELVAR (obtained by INIAV breeding program – Elvas, Portugal) well adapted to the demands of modern agriculture and an existing high demand of agro-industry.  AICF develops contracts with producers, provides technical assistance with INIAV collaboration, controlling the technical itineraries and ensuring the flow of grain produced. AICF Agro Inovação S.A. is also responsible for the whole process of cleaning, calibrating and preparing the grain for delivery to the industry.We can consider that chickpea crop is currently a success story because only one variety currently occupies 95% of the production area in the south of France and 100% of the area in Portugal, which corresponds to around 1000ha. More than 50 producers are associated with this area and the interest of the food industry is increasing in several sectors.

May 2021  As the Legvalue project concludes images are presents of the launch of the Portuguese Chick pea value chain Farmers Day a the research station.

Contact:
Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I.P.
Unidade Estratégica de Investigação e Serviços de Biotecnologia
e Recursos Genéticos
Apt. 6, 7350-901 Elvas, Portugal
Tel.Direto (+351) 268 637 740
E-mail isabel.duarte@iniav.pt