A research consortium led by Norfolk crop scientists has won £3m of government funding to develop more climate-resilient peas, beans and lentils. 

The John Innes Centre, based on the Norwich Research Park, leads the Pulse Crop Genetic Improvement Network (PCGIN), which started in 2008.

The group has received the extra Defra funding boost for the next five years, aimed at  improving seed-breeding material for the UK cultivation of peas, beans and other pulses. 

Pulse crops are an important protein source in human diets, but they also have a valuable environmental benefit.

Legumes, including peas, beans and lentils, can "fix" nitrogen nutrients in the soil, reducing the need for artificial fertilisers which can damage biodiversity and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.  

The research will look at threats to UK pulse crops from pests, diseases and climate change, and it will target nutritional traits such as protein content, minerals and flavour components. 

In addition to using conventional genetic improvement methods, "gene editing" techniques will also be developed for peas and faba beans. 

Prof Janneke Balk, group leader at the John Innes Centre and co-lead of PCGIN, said: "Over the last 17 years PCGIN has made critical contributions to pea and faba bean development that are now close to being brought to market.

"In the new funding phase, we will expand our research to lentil and common bean, which could be grown more widely in the future as we see higher temperatures in the UK."

The PCGIN is led by the John Innes Centre in collaboration with the University of Reading, NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany) in Cambridge, the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University, and the PGRO (Processors and Growers Research Organisation) in Peterborough. 

 Dr Sanu Arora, group leader at the John Innes Centre and co-lead of PCGIN, said: "The next five years are key for developing new pulse crops for the UK.

"We need to work closely with farmers and growers to ensure that our research is targeting the traits that they need in their fields."