Researchers at the University of East Anglia are investigating whether reintroducing beans, peas and lentils into UK crop rotations could help farming withstand climate change.
Undertaken by Madalitso Mgunda, from the university’s School of Global Development, the research focuses on a central question: “What would make edible legumes a more viable and attractive option within Norfolk farming systems?”
Mgunda brings more than six years’ experience in sustainable agriculture and food systems in Malawi to the project. She has previously worked with the World Food Programme to support legume value chains.
It is hoped the move could reduce reliance on fertilisers, improve soil health and diversify crop rotations in one of England’s most productive farming regions.
“The UK’s biggest crops, including wheat, barley and potatoes, are highly vulnerable to climate change,” Mgunda said. “Extreme heat, spring drought, unseasonal flooding, together with changing disease and pest risks pose a real threat.”
According to Mgunda, legumes such as beans, peas and lentils were used to “fix” nitrogen in the soil until the mid-20th century, “when synthetic chemical fertilisers became widely available”.
A project will investigate whether reintroducing edible legumes into farming rotations of wheat, oil seed rape and potatoes could help make farming systems more resilient to climate change.
“In many cases, edible legumes have been completely dropped from farm rotations, replacing them with continuous intensive cereal and potato cropping,” she added.
“This research will explore the realities facing Norfolk farmers and the wider supply chain, helping to identify what changes would be needed to make legume production a more viable option in the future.”
Mgunda’s research will combine interviews with farmers, processors and industry stakeholders with climate suitability data to understand the opportunities and barriers associated with legume production.
She will also work with researchers at UEA’s Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development (NISD), contributing to wider research on climate resilience, food systems and crop diversification. Additionally, part of her project will involve visiting comparable legume systems in Europe.
“Legumes offer significant opportunities to improve environmental sustainability and farm resilience, yet questions remain about how these crops can fit within existing systems,” said NISD director Professor Nitya Rao. “This project will provide valuable insights into the practical conditions needed to support wider adoption.”
A postgraduate student, Mgunda was the recipient of the 2026 Norfolk International Scholarship. Delivered in partnership with the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA), the Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development, and the JC Mann Charitable Trust, it supports research that addresses key challenges facing agriculture while delivering practical benefits for Norfolk’s farming community.
“Understanding how alternative crops such as legumes could contribute to resilient and profitable farming systems is highly relevant to Norfolk’s agricultural sector,” said RNAA chief executive Mark Nicholas. “We are proud to support research that is both academically rigorous and directly connected to the needs of our farming community.”
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