OG GUIPROGAL: Locally Adapted Pea Varieties to Increase Resilience to Changing Environmental Conditions as a Source of Protein for Feed and Food 

GUIPROGAL highlights the importance of pea cultivation in addressing global challenges such as climate change and nutritional security (OE4 PAC). Native pea varieties are widely accepted by local farmers due to their rich quality profile and good adaptation to suboptimal growing conditions. However, despite these recognized benefits, they have been largely abandoned in mainstream production systems. 

GUIPROGAL aims to recover and validate the agronomic and technological potential of traditional pea varieties by evaluating them under controlled climates, allowing for the safe selection of well-adapted regional cultivars tested in various locations (=changing environmental conditions) (OE5, 6). At the same time, it will enhance quality traits and transformation potential, developing new protein-rich formulations for human and cattle feed (OE1, 9), and ensuring technology transfer to the sector (OE2, 3). The validation of results will involve stakeholder participation, ensuring knowledge transfer for selecting the right varieties to grow and accelerating the dissemination of suitable seeds for the specific needs of farmers in different areas of Galicia (OE7, 8). 

The expected outcomes align with the cross-cutting objective of the CAP: modernizing the agricultural sector through knowledge and innovation in rural areas, addressing its nine specific goals. GUIPROGAL targets the entire value chain, production, transformation, and transfer, incorporating technological solutions (varieties and products), revalorizing native biodiversity through the diversification of protein-rich foods, and introducing innovative pea farming systems that contribute to sustainability (SDG 12, 15). 

Project Objectives: 

General Objective:
GUIPROGAL seeks to develop new food products and agricultural technologies that optimize and add value to Galician production by recovering and promoting native protein-rich pea varieties suitable for human and animal consumption and adapted to sustainable farming systems. 

Specific Objectives: 

1. Improve quality traits and resilience of protein-rich pea varieties.
   Activities will focus on: defining field trial requirements and selecting the most promising varieties; developing varieties with high protein quality and content, and tolerance to extreme climate conditions.
2. Develop processed forms with added value.
   Activities will focus on: identifying varieties with superior nutritional properties; developing processed forms while preserving fresh product characteristics; creating formulations for animal feed incorporating pea protein; and validating developed food products.
3. Establish mechanisms for the dissemination and transfer of agricultural strategies related to the developed varieties, to enhance sustainability and profitability in production, as well as for the processed products intended for human and animal consumption.
   Transfer and dissemination activities will be organized and carried out with the various sectors involved.

Expected Results: 

• Identification of adaptability and productivity of different native protein-rich pea varieties in climatic zones of Galicia through phenotyping in field trials. 

• Ensuring the production and supply of promising pea seeds for the development of human food products. 

• Ensuring the production and supply of promising pea seeds for use as raw material in animal feed. 

• Improving the productivity of new selected protein-rich pea varieties in less productive farmland. Making quality and resilient native pea varieties available to farmers. 

• Obtaining protein-rich pea grain with optimal composition for food inclusion. 

• Designing and optimizing processes for three processed formulations for human food. 

• Developing new specific feed formulations for beef cattle fattening with total or partial replacement of soybean protein. 

• Obtaining three processed food products with proven quality through organoleptic and sensory characterization and consumer acceptance evaluation. 

• Producing processed feed validated for meat quality and animal welfare. 

• Transferring the knowledge and results obtained to promote the use of agricultural practices based on native protein-rich pea varieties and new processed forms, fostering sustainability and profitability for human and animal consumption. 

See the project brochure in: Spanish / English
See the project activities in: Spanish / English 

This project is funded through grants for the implementation of innovative projects by the Operational Groups of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP), co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), under the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027.
The Galician Regional Ministry of Rural Affairs is the public body responsible for proposing and implementing general guidelines in rural areas, including agriculture, livestock, rural development and regional planning, rural structures, agri-food and forestry industries, forestry, and wildfire prevention and defense. 

Budget: €139,556.94 (100% subsidized). 

The project is developed by a multidisciplinary team made up of:
Axiña Asesoramento Rural Integral S.C.G., Fundación Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne, Misión Biolóxica de Galicia, Almacenes Gamallo S.L., Fundación Empresa Universidad Gallega (FEUGA), and, as a cooperating entity, Javier Sabín (cattle farmer).