Potential for the introduction of soybean into crop rotations in the Normandy region

International audienceEurope is looking for alternatives for soybean importations and needs more local production of protein crops to meet the growing demand for proteins both for feed and food. One strategy to meet this demand could be to expand the soybean production areas (Karges et al, 2022). However, some preliminary information is required before starting producing a new crop. Firstly, farmers lack technical and economic references such as adapted technical management or potential yield but also the impact on gross margin of crop rotation. Then advisors, also needs similar information when working with farmers. Finally, collectors may need the potential total volume potentially produced in a given area to identify the storage needs or the resources required to collect or sell the grains.The aim of this study is to present the main results of a research project (Soja made in Normandy) aiming at assessing the potential for soybean in the Normandy region (France), where soybean has not been cultivated yet. In order to assess the potential for soybean, the research was conducted in two steps: on the one side, an analysis of potential soybean yields and on the other side an ex-ante production and economic assessment. In the first step, soybean yield was simulated per soil type for the last ten years using the STICS crop model. The results were compared with two-years results of the experimental trials ongoing in the region. In the second step, the ex-ante assessment of soybean production and gross margin, we applied the methodology developed by Marraccini, et al (2020) using the RPG explorer data on crop succession in the region (Martin et al., 2021) at the parcel level to estimate the maximum potential for soybean insertion within local crop rotations. Further, we calculate and map the maximum production potential for the area. Finally, we compared at the parcel level for the whole region the gross margins of ongoing and crop rotation including soybean to understand and map the potential economic impact. Results showed that from a climatic point of view 100% of the region was suitable for soybean cultivation as it is possible to sown at a minimal soil temperature of 10°C and cumulate enough temperature to harvest by the end of September in good conditions. From a soil quality side, there were two types of soils that are well adapted to soybean growing: deep loam and moderately deep silty loam which represented 57% of the territory. STICS simulations a potential yield between 1.8 & 2.7 t/ha 0% humidity in function of years and soil types