France
23 May 2024
In the Centre-Ouest zone, organic oilseed acreage expanded remarkably until 2022, with a three-fold increase in sunflower acreage and a four-and-a-half-fold increase in soybean acreage. By 2023, although growth had paused, acreage of pulses such as lentils and chickpeas continued to grow. The organic market, despite the challenges encountered since 2020, showed notable resilience, with stable demand for soybeans and protein crops due to the strong need for organic plant proteins. Promising investment initiatives are underway to further strengthen and energize the sector, as demonstrated by the ROTALEG project, the lessons learned from the CAPABLE project for thistle and dock management, and the varietal renewal of lentils in organic farming.
Market update on the organic oilseed and protein crop sector - Claire Ortega - Terres Univia
In France, organic oilseed acreage (sunflower, soya, rapeseed) increased considerably up to 2022, but stagnated in 2023. At the same time, the acreage of protein crops and pulses, which had increased up to 2020, has fallen slightly since then (difficulties linked to biotic and abiotic stresses partly explain this decline).
More specifically, in the Central-Western zone, organic oilseed acreage has grown dynamically, with sunflower acreage increasing by a factor of 3 and soybean acreage by a factor of 4.5 between 2018 and 2022. Over the same period, the area under pulses increased (+68% for lentils and +91% for chickpeas), while that under protein crops fell slightly (-15% for peas and -5% for faba beans).
Oilseeds produced in France are mostly crushed in some twenty plants throughout the country. The sunflower and rapeseed oils derived from the crushing process are mainly used for human consumption. Meal (and soybean oil) and protein crops are used by animal feed manufacturers.
The organic market is currently experiencing difficulties due to the decline in consumption observed since 2020. Oilseed products, such as oils, soyfoods and pulses, were affected by this decline in 2022. The consequences of the drop in organic consumption can be seen at various stages of the supply chain, particularly in the 2023/24 campaign. In particular, a number of crushers, focused on the production of bottled oils, have slowed their production. FABs have also slowed production of organic feed since 2021, which has had an impact on the arable farming sector as a whole, for which they represent the main outlet. However, soybeans and protein crops have been relatively unaffected by the difficulties, due to the strong demand for organic plant proteins.
Plans are underway to invest in sunflower hulling equipment, with the aim of producing protein-rich meal to meet the requirements of new animal feed regulations (100% organic raw materials).
ROTALEG: results of a long-term AB trial with no external organic inputs - Aloïs Artaux - Chambre d'Agriculture des Pays de la Loire
The Rotaleg system trial was set up in 2011 on the Thorigné d'Anjou experimental farm. It compares 5 rotations, including legumes in varying proportions and, for one of them, additional organic fertilizers. The results show that legumes capture atmospheric nitrogen well, but their restitution is not fully valorized by the crops. Pea and faba bean yields can be unpredictable, with non-harvest situations recorded over several years (diseases, excessive weed pressure). Weed pressure is similar in the different rotations, except in the alfalfa-based rotation (where it is reduced). There is no significant effect of rotation on diseases, but the accumulation of crops sharing pathogens may require special attention. Overall, organic fertilization, when practiced, maintains a balanced phosphate balance and improves soil assimilable phosphorus. However, organic matter and carbon/nitrogen ratios do not show clear trends.
Lessons learned from the CAPABLE project for the management of thistle and dock in AB - Enguerrand Burel - ITAB
Weed management, and in particular perennials such as thistle and dock, is a major problem in organic field crop rotations. Surveys carried out among organic farmers as part of the project have highlighted perennial management as a major problem, in particular due to their ability to reproduce and regenerate, complicating their management . The main management levers identified in these surveys are, for dock, the use of tine tools in intercropping and the establishment of smothering cover, and for thistle, the use of smothering cover, the integration of alfalfa into the rotation or the use of tine (or disc) tools in intercropping. Trials have identified or developed effective control strategies, such as rapid alternation of summer and spring crops for dock, and repeated stubble ploughing in intercropping for thistle. We also recommend tillage with high-coverage implements for thistle, and false seeding of catch crops for dock. These strategies must be adapted to the specific conditions of each plot, such as soil texture, availability of intervention windows and economic objectives.
Varietal renewal for lentils in AB - Zoé Le Bihan & Arnaud Van Boxsom - Terres Inovia
Organic lentil production accounts for a growing share of the French lentil industry. The area under cultivation is stable, with green lentils dominating (around 80%). Organic lentils are still mainly grown in association with camelina or cereals. Southern France accounts for 59% of acreage, but acreage is increasing in Vendée-Poitou Charentes, Pays de la Loire and Bretagne.
The lentil varietal evaluation network began in 2021, with 15 trials in 2023. Three organic trials were carried out up to harvest time over the 2021-2023 period. The varieties Marble, GreenStar and RedMoon showed slightly higher yields than controls in organic trials, while differences were smaller in conventional trials.
The main variables studied (yield, protein content, PMG, earliness, height, lodging sensitivity) showed little difference between conventional and organic trials. Marble and GreenStar are varieties with high PMG and height, but low susceptibility to lodging.
For the future, the organic varietal evaluation network plans to study the ability of varieties to combine, soil cover, weed competition, sensitivity to disease and climate change.
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