Setting up a local, sustainable soybean value chain.

General introduction

The LoCoSoy project leads growers, processors and retailers to form a united consortium with the goal of creating a local, sustainable and complete soy chain. Problems such as scaling up to (organic) practice and securing a sales market play into the hands of this small niche sector.  The consortium wants to work out an appropriate and low-processing processing technique on an SME scale for organic soybeans, while ensuring that the revenue model develops fairly and transparently among consortium members. 

Research approach

We investigate whether extrusion can play a role in getting the small-scale, local and sustainable production of organic soy off the ground in a stable way. We are testing different business models regarding profitable cooperation between chain actors.  

Relevance/Valorisation

A small-scale, local soybean crop in Flanders, with some form of collective processing within their chain, could perhaps grow into a niche chain around a (range of) niche products. The partners resolve to keep a close eye on consumer preferences, as they will ultimately provide the desired stable cooperation and sales market. We expect that in time this project could also be a model for the processing of other locally grown protein crops, such as field bean, lupin or pea.

Funding provider(s)
Vlaamse Overheid - L&V