Did you know which ancient crop kept cattle happy this winter?

In some parts of Europe farmers received less than 50% of normal rainfall last year, resulting in shortages and high fodder prices this winter. 69% of farmers say current feed prices no longer enable them to generate sufficient profit margins, and half struggle to cover basic expenses [1].

However, an ancient Asian crop, sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), with a delicate and light floral fragrance performed well, even during one of Western Europe’s driest springs. It also offers important advantages for livestock, including being non bloating, highly palatable, and rich in condensed tannins that naturally reduce internal parasites [2;3].

As Western Europe faces warmer, drier summers and rising fodder prices, sainfoin’s ancient resilience could provide genetic diversity for breeding innovative, nutritious and drought tolerant forage. Deep taproots and drought adapted physiology allows it to maintain quality even in arid and semi arid conditions. Enabling use of the latest plant breeding techniques could help leverage this potential for other crops.
 

[1] Optimal Conditions For Sainfoin Growth: Soil, Climate, And Habitat Insights | SHUN WASTE
[2] Fair EU yield expectations despite drought concerns | European Commission
[3] Europe Faces Intensifying Mid-2025 Drought Across Regions | STARS 4 Water