How we produce and consume protein is increasingly central to the sustainability debate. As the Netherlands accelerates its protein transition, a climate-resilient and protein-rich crop from West Africa could offer new inspiration: the cowpea, being small in size but with big potential impact.
Figure 1: Cowpea pod
The Dutch protein transition
Since 2020, the Dutch government actively promotes the shift from animal-based proteins to plant-based alternatives, commonly referred to as the protein transition. This transition is driven by environmental, climate and sustainability considerations. Animal-based protein production generally has a higher environmental footprint, including greenhouse gas emissions, land use and water consumption, compared to plant-based protein sources.
Encouraging a more balanced protein consumption pattern is therefore an important pillar of Dutch agricultural and food policy. This includes shifting plant-based proteins from animal feed to direct human consumption and reducing overall reliance on animal-based proteins in diets.
Cowpea: a protein-rich pulse with potential
One pulse that is still relatively unknown in the Netherlands, but widely consumed in Ghana and across West Africa, is the cowpea. This versatile legume plays a central role in many local dishes like waakye and red red.
Cowpeas are rich in protein (20-30%) and essential minerals, making them a promising plant-based protein source within the broader protein transition. Beyond their nutritional value, cowpeas have several agronomic advantages. They are drought-resistant, perform well under low-input conditions and contribute to soil health by fixing nitrogen. This makes them particularly suitable for climate-smart agriculture and sustainable farming systems.
Afropulse: linking Ghanaian farmers to new protein markets
A concrete example of how this potential is being explored is Afropulse, a Wageningen University & Research (WUR) spin-off. Afropulse collaborates with local female farmers in Tamale (Northern Ghana) to produce and locally process cowpeas into protein concentrate, for both local and European markets.
By working closely with female farmers and leveraging on female leadership along the supply chain, Afropulse contributes not only to sustainable production but also to equity and women’s economic empowerment. Strengthening women’s position in agricultural value chains is an important element in building inclusive and resilient food systems.
After a successful pilot phase, Afropulse is now entering a scaling-up stage. Plans include expanding collaboration with women farmers, increasing yield of cowpea production, establishing storage hub facilities in Northern Ghana and strengthening local processing capacity for cowpea flour and cowpea protein concentrate. This will take place alongside continued development of end-market applications for the final product with European partners. These steps aim to add value locally while strengthening the supply chain.
Figure 2: Lydia, co-founder of Afropulse checking cowpea field
A shared opportunity
Sustainable protein sources are becoming increasingly important in shaping future food systems. Cowpeas demonstrate how a traditional West African crop can contribute to both local food security and international sustainability ambitions. Deepening cooperation between Ghanaian producers and Dutch knowledge institutions and companies could unlock further potential and position cowpea as a meaningful contributor to the global protein transition.
Figure 3: Cowpea beans_concentrate_bread loaf
References:
- Nationale eiwitstrategie, Open Overheid (Dutch Government open data platform). Available at: open.overheid.nl/documenten/ronl-6ea7577b-85a6-425a-9dad-b9b9cf695495/pdf
- Shevkani, K. et al. (2025). Cowpeas for sustainable agriculture and nutrition security: an overview of their nutritional quality and agroeconomic advantages.
- Afropulse – Our Impact: Road to Impact, Afropulse Food. Available at: afropulsefood.com/road-to-impact
For more information, feel free to contact us via acc-lvvn@minbuza.nl.