AEP , the European Association for Grain Legume Research, is a European-based but internationally-active network of scientists and end-users concerned with grain legumes (peas, faba beans, lupins, chickpeas, lentils, Phaseolus beans, etc.).

The major grain legumes grown in the Europe are: peas, faba beans, lupins, chickpeas, lentils and Phaseolus beans. Their agronomic benefits are recognised in cropping systems and the nutritional value of their seeds is appreciated for both feed and food uses. Despite their rapid development since the 1980s, these relatively new crops still have to improve their competitiveness compared with the other major crops such as cereals or oil crops.

The main objective of AEP is to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists and partners over the range of activities from production to market. AEP provides them with a platform for exchanges and services in order to:

Objective 1 - stimulate research
through the development of interdisciplinary and international collaboration.
> Further the exchange of information between scientists.
> Improve the coherence of research and support joint projects.
> Cooperate with related research organisations, particularly in Europe.

Objective 2 - enhance the application of research
in the integrated chain from production to utilisation
> Present and discuss new information from research.
> Identify and meet the needs of users, e.g. breeders, producers and industry.
> Communicate and produce publications to transfer information.