Grasspea Project in Quebec: Securing Fund for Resilient Agriculture

By Priyanka Gupta

Quebec’s agricultural sector is evolving with a focus on diversifying crops to enhance food security, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability. One promising crop in this shift is grasspea (Lathyrus sativus), a hardy legume with significant potential under Quebec’s pedoclimatic conditions. This initiative supports the objectives of the Sustainable Agriculture Plan 2020-2030, particularly promoting biodiversity and integrating emerging crops into the farming landscape.

A Collaborative Research Initiative

This research project is a collaborative effort between the Grains Research Centre (CÉROM) and Université Laval. The aim is to assess the agronomic performance of 20 grasspea cultivars, received from the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) under Quebec’s field conditions, comparing to soybean, a popular legume in the region. Over the next two years, field trials will take place at the CÉROM experimental site in Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil and Université Laval’s experimental farm in Saint-Augustin.

Why Grasspea?

Grasspea is an ideal legume for climate-resilient agriculture due to its ability to thrive in challenging environments. Known for its resistance to drought, heat, and flooding, it is well-suited to the unpredictable climate conditions of Quebec. Furthermore, its ability to fix nitrogen enhances soil health, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. However, the crop does have one concern: β-ODAP, a neurotoxin that can be harmful at high concentrations. The 20 cultivars selected from ICARDA’s breeding program have been chosen for their low β-ODAP levels, ensuring they are safe for both human and animal consumption.

Research Objectives

The project will focus on:

1. Assessing Field Performance: This involves evaluating emergence, growth, disease resistance, weed control, and yield under Quebec’s field conditions.
2. Nutritional Comparisons: The nutritional composition of grasspea, particularly its protein and fiber content, will be compared with that of soybean to explore its potential as a plant-based protein source.
3. Ensuring Nutritional Safety: Grain composition and toxin levels will be tested in accredited laboratories to ensure food safety.
4. Knowledge Transfer: Research findings will be shared with Quebec’s agricultural stakeholders to promote the adoption of grasspea as a viable crop for the region.

Achievements and Future Prospects

This project was initiated by Dr. Priyanka Gupta, who grew grasspea at Université Laval’s experimental farm in 2023-2024, with crucial support from Prof. François Belzile (Université Laval) and Dr. Shiv Agrawal (ICARDA). The field evaluations conducted by Semican, a leading Canadian seed company, further validated the performance of grasspea in Canadian conditions. ICARDA’s provision of low-toxin cultivars has been instrumental in advancing the research.

Dr. Gupta’s contributions have been internationally recognized, with her findings presented at the First Lathyrus Day in Belgium (June 3, 2024), where she received a prestigious travel award. Meanwhile, third-generation farmer Ms Skye Larmour is conducting parallel trials with ICARDA’s grasspea lines in British Columbia, underscoring growing interest in the crop across Canada. Additionally, two informative blogs have been published, highlighting grasspea’s potential in Canadian agriculture and its applications in sustainable food systems:

• Grasspea in Canadian Farming (saifood.ca/grasspea-canadian-farming/)
• Grasspea in Gastronomy (saifood.ca/grasspea-gastronomy/)

Moving Forward

With the financial support* from the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ, mapaq.gouv.qc.ca),  the project is progressing under the leadership of Dr. Abdi Dalel (CÉROM) and Prof. Jean-Pascal Matteau (Université Laval). Their expertise will help ensure the successful implementation of field trials and continued research.