Sustainability spectrum of forage legumes: Fromsoil builders to food, feed and fuel

Abstract

The modern input intensive agriculture has increased sustainability challenges. Degraded soils, limited land and water resources, heavy chemical reliance and climate change has necessitated urgent measures to feed the growing population. Amid all these challenges, forage-legumes stand out as most beneficial and multi-functional crop providing fuel for industries, feed supplement for
animals, health to the soil and many services to the ecosystem, giving ecological, economical and nutritional solution at once. This versatility has resulted from the deep-rooted symbiosis, million years of evolution and adaptive traits that makes them the future ready crop. It fulfills the 3P’s of sustainability - People, Planet and Profit. This article discusses the legume sustainability and versatility spectrum.