As feed costs rise and the demand for locally grown, non-GMO protein sources increases, lupin species – especially white lupin (Lupinus albus) and narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) – stand out as versatile options. Well-adapted to marginal soils and temperate climates, they serve as livestock feed, green manure and components of healthy cropping systems.
White and narrow-leafed lupins are native to the Mediterranean region (southeastern Europe and western Asia) and have been cultivated since antiquity in Greece, Italy, Egypt and Cyprus. Today they are widely grown in northern Europe (France, Germany, Poland), Russia, parts of South America (Andean highlands, Chile, Peru), Africa (Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia) and North America (organic farms in Canada and the northern U.S.). While Australia remains the largest producer globally, these legumes have regained interest in Europe and the Americas as organic and regenerative systems expand.
