FFAR funding led to a patent filing for a new high-protein, early maturation chickpea variety, NC-1.
Demand for Chickpeas is Increasing, but Farmers Face Production Limitations
Plant-based proteins like chickpeas are an emerging industry in the United States as consumers as these products are nutritious, offering fiber and essential nutrients with low saturated fats.
Although chickpeas have the potential to be processed for protein at scale, farmers face production limitations that make them less competitive in the alternative protein market compared to the more commonly grown alternative plant protein, yellow pea. Current chickpea production challenges include:
- The need for consistent warmer weather conditions as well as an extended growing season (100 to 130 days) compared to yellow pea (70 to 90 days).
- Higher production costs due to the need for increased herbicide and fungicide application and higher seed costs due to a higher seed weight
- Extra processing steps due to the higher fat content that necessitate chickpeas go through a defatting process to remove most of the fat before they can be processed for protein.
Expanding the chickpea’s genetic diversity could unlock avenues to make this popular legume more competitive in the alternative protein market.
Establishing a High-Protein, Early Maturation Chickpea
Prior to the FFAR grant, NuCicer collected a unique library of wild chickpea germplasm with the goal of “redomesticating” the species by introducing new genetic diversity. NuCicer conducted a cross-breeding effort with their unique genetic library to increase chickpea genetic diversity by 40 times.
FFAR funding enabled NuCicer to unlock the genetic potential within its unique wild chickpea germplasm library. NuCicer systematically characterized the genetic, agronomic and nutritional profiles, including maturity, protein, fat and starch content, of hundreds of wild-derived chickpea varieties. This research culminated in the development of new chickpea varieties with improved protein content and agronomic traits ready for commercialization. Based on this development, NuCicer recently patented its first high-protein, early maturation variety, NC-1, which has been adopted by pulse growers, ingredients processors and companies alike with over 10,000 acres of NC-1 planted in 2026.
Research Benefits & Impact on Chickpea Producers
NuCicer used their FFAR grant to develop the NC-1 chickpea variety and achieved the following outcomes:
- Reduced costs for pulse growers.
- Lighter weight seed leads to lower seed costs, and the crop’s ability to mature early removes the need for desiccant input and labor to apply, as well as reduces yield loss.
- Reduced costs for protein processors.
- A pulse with greater protein per unit allows processors to process fewer units for more protein. The NC-1’s reduced fat content increases processing efficiency.
- Premium prices for higher protein content per pea.
- Processors anticipate receiving a premium from food manufacturers for chickpea-derived high-protein products like flour.
- Increased industry knowledge of chickpea as an alternative protein
- Research developed and publicized two datasets:
- Phenotyping data, available on Germinate Chickpea, a website describing plant growth architecture, pod structure, flower color, plant mass, total seed mass, seed morphological characteristics and seed coat characteristics.
- Genomic data that is publicly available through the National Center for Genome Resources.
- NuCicer hosted a workshop to introduce the genome database to the international chickpea community in November 2022.
Economic Advantages
NuCicer leveraged their $1,000,000 FFAR grant and secured $23 Million in follow-on funding from private investors to further improve research and commercialization.
Furthermore, an independent economic model projects that, assuming moderate adoption across the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Canada, growers would generate roughly $41.5 million in economic benefits by 2035. This estimate reinforces the importance of public-private partners. NuCicer’s early public support accelerated real market opportunities and spurred NC-1’s potential to deliver meaningful returns for pulse growers.