Lara, Szymon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1120-2092 and Ryan, Philippa (2025) The current state of peas in the United Kingdom; diversity, heritage and food systems. Plants, People, Planet.

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Abstract

Peas (Lathyrus oleraceus Lam. syn Pisum sativum L.) are one of the oldest UK pulse crops and are still an important part of the food systems today. Despite the United Kingdom having a rich history of crop diversity and being a centre of crop trade since the Victorian era, historic pea varieties have been largely lost. Most currently grown pea cultivars are of commercial use with little or no historical significance. In general, most UK landraces (including those of peas) today, are maintained ex situ in seedbanks. Varieties with a long UK heritage are arguably well-suited to local conditions, but their cultivation is needed to enable their ongoing adaptation to climate change. Globally, many crops still have cultivated landraces; however, their use can be largely limited to local food systems. In the United Kingdom especially, there are legislative rules and frameworks such as the National Lists and Plant Breeders' Rights that increase the complexity of in situ maintenance of landraces and possibly de-incentivise their wider use across the food systems today. These findings highlight the importance of underutilised varieties and neglected crops in sociocultural contexts.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1002/ppp3.70001
Subjects:	Hospitality and tourism > Culinary arts > Food studies
Depositing User:	Szymon Lara
Date Deposited:	28 Feb 2025 09:03
Last Modified:	28 Feb 2025 09:15
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/13284
Sustainable Development Goals:	Goal 2: Zero Hunger

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