Valorizing faba bean for animal feed supplements via biotechnological approach: Opinion

Abstract Despite the high protein content, faba bean valorisation, as a protein supplement for the livestock, is hampered by the presence of anti-nutritional compounds in the seeds, such as vicine and convicine (v-c). Conventional methods had limited success in improving the faba beans nutritional quality, and hence, transcriptomic approaches, such as the identification of the genes related to the v-c biosynthesis/transport can be looked upon. These genes can be knocked out in a seed-specific manner using the RNA interference (RNAi) technology, to create faba bean varieties which synthesize alkaloids but hinder their accumulation within the seeds. Recently, a single marker conferred low v-c phenotype in faba bean, however, such reports warrant further investigations. Successful accomplishments would facilitate the faba bean valorisation for the food and feed, and therefore, negating the European dependency on the soya meal import. Moreover, it will be quite significant for legume supported cropping system in Europe.