Lupin from our own soil: André Jurrius builds a new food chain

Read the story in Dutch (lees het verhaal in het Nederlands)


In Randwijk, André Jurrius runs Ekoboerderij De Lingehof. On his fields, he grows potatoes, onions, and grains—but also a striking newcomer: the lupin bean. A protein-rich crop that can contribute to the protein transition while improving soil health. Jurrius asks: “Why import soy from the other side of the world when we can grow healthy proteins right here?”


Twenty years ago, Jurrius started with organic farming. When he got the chance to try lupin in 2008, he initially saw it mainly as a useful cover crop—a plant that doesn’t exhaust the soil but actually benefits it. “Only later did I discover the other qualities of this special bean: rich in fiber and amino acids, friendly to biodiversity, and suitable for countless food applications.”


The step toward scaling up came in 2020, when he joined the Rabo Food Forward program. There, he met Marieke Lameris. Together, they founded Lekker Lupine!, built on three pillars: cultivation and crop development, product development, and building a community—from seed suppliers to consumers.


Building a chain

Today, about ten growers in the Netherlands are involved. The harvest is brought together at De Lingehof, where the beans are stored, cleaned, and processed. From there, they find their way to bakeries and caterers. Unknown makes unloved, so Jurrius works hard to ensure the new product gets noticed. “On our farm, we’ve set up a special Lupin Room where visitors can have lunch or dinner with dishes featuring the bean as the star. Even the coffee is made from lupin!”


Success doesn’t come automatically. Cultivation requires innovation: lupin is susceptible to diseases and naturally contains bitter compounds. The market is also challenging. While Jurrius and his colleagues work hard to grow 100 tons of lupin, a single ship from Australia brings in more than ten times that amount at once. “We’re competing with a global market that always seems cheaper. That makes it hard to pay farmers a fair price,” he explains.


Rabobank’s role

In the search for new revenue models, Rabobank plays a key role. Through Food Forward and later Plant Protein Forward, Jurrius and Lameris gained access to knowledge, networks, and like-minded entrepreneurs. This gave Lekker Lupine! the push to grow—not through subsidies or big checks, but by connecting the links in the chain, from farmer to caterer. Jurrius sees this as essential: “We need partners who help us bridge the gap to the consumer. Rabobank was one of the first to put this conversation on the agenda.”


Looking ahead

Jurrius is optimistic about the future. He’s working on further scaling up and improving varieties, but above all on a fair revenue model for growers. “It’s still pioneering, but it’s absolutely possible. We can grow our proteins right here in our own country. That benefits not only the farmer, but also the soil, biodiversity, and ultimately the consumer.”

 

Learn more about true value.

On Rabobank’s menu

In Rabobank’s company restaurant, chef David Romo Ramos serves lupin beans from Lekker Lupine! “We use lupin spreads as a base for various sandwiches. Delicious, nicely seasoned—we have Curry and Mediterranean—and super healthy too. A real upgrade that adds much more to your sandwich than just a layer of butter.”
Two years ago, David tasted the spreads from Lekker Lupine! for the first time. “The flavors weren’t perfect yet, but the potential was clear. I offered to help with development. Now they’re fantastic products—with a great story behind them.”