Lupin is a legume with particularly valuable properties due to its high protein content, its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, and its highly efficient uptake of phosphorus. These benefits make it a promising option for increasing the production and consumption of plant-based proteins in the human diet while addressing the environmental challenges of agriculture. However, lupin suffers from cultivation-related drawbacks (sensitivity to weather fluctuations and pests) and nutritional issues (allergens) that hinder its adoption and use. Lupin cultivation is currently marginal. PULSAR is a France 2030 future investment program funded by the ANR. Its objective is to improve scientific knowledge of lupin from upstream (Genetics, Agronomy, Physiology) to downstream (Processing, Allergenicity). The ultimate goal of this project is to develop cultivable varietal ideotypes suitable for intercropping, with high yields and resilience to environmental stresses, while also being easy to process and having reduced allergenicity. At IRHS, PULSAR involves studying the physiology of source-sink relationships in lupin (seed development and maturation, root exudation, photosynthesis, phloem dynamics).

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