A study published in the journal Frontiers, shows that the expansion of the supply of lysine, plant-based will mean an increase in soybean production outside its main production areas in Brazil, USA and Argentina.

Lysine is one of the amino acids necessary for human nutrition, and if you consider veganism and vegetarianism as a food model of the future, it would be necessary to establish a sustainable supply of mankind lysine.

Currently, the production of lysine, plant-based, which can be considered as a substitute for lysine in animal-based, is mainly from soy beans that are grown and imported from a small number of countries.

For example, the amount of lysine produced at present from all other leguminous protein crops such as beans and peas, is less than one-fifth of the number of lysine soy-based, that is unable to meet global demand.

Therefore, in addition to the mass cultivation of soy, there are alternatives in the form of increased production of other legumes, rich in lysine, or production of lysine from plant sources not currently used (oilseeds).

The study's lead author, Dr. Ilkka Leinonen from the Scottish agricultural College, said that the transition to a plant-based diet "may not be as simple as previously thought".

"All of these options will require major changes in the structure of global agricultural production with tangible consequences because alternative crops will require a much greater land area to produce the same amount of lysine, which gives soybeans," said Dr Leinonen.

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