Greg Shea holds a sample of Australian lupin beans with his browser open on the new website. Photo: DPIRD

A WEBSITE has been launched to help boost the profile of Australian sweet lupins as a sustainable and healthy food source.

The aussielupins.org.au site houses nutritional information, recipes and professional resources on the Australian lupin bean, the new name coined for the seed of the Australian sweet lupin, or lupin angustifolius.

The website was developed by the Sweet Lupin Association of Western Australia, which aims to advance the production and export of lupin food ingredients and finished food products from WA.

The association was recently established with the support of WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

DPIRD research scientist Greg Shea said lupins were gaining increased attention as a healthy food grain source.

“It is a unique grain that has very low carbohydrate content, which differentiates it from many grains in our diets, while boasting very high levels of protein and dietary fibre,” Mr Shea said.

“However, the average consumer in Australia and overseas has a lack of understanding about lupins as a potential part of an everyday diet.”

Mr Shea said the association decided a great way to raise awareness with consumers was to provide factual lupin information through a dedicated website.

“The website represents the culmination of decades of research and expertise.

“Visitors to the website can be assured that the information presented is scientifically verifiable.”

Mr Shea said WA lupin growers, processors and food companies were in a prime position to take advantage of growing interest in lupins as an environmentally friendly plant-protein ingredient.

“WA currently grows about 85 percent of the world’s narrow-leafed lupins; we’ve got a Mediterranean climate and a lot of sandy soils that suit this crop.

Lupins are an important break crop in WA rotations, and fix nitrogen in the soil, reducing the need for manufactured fertilisers.

Source: Sweet Lupin Association of WA