To reduce the use of nitrogen inputs and boost the protein autonomy of our agri-food systems, the AssoBIO project (2022-2026) is exploring the production of legumes in mixed cropping systems with other crops. The aim is to co-construct and test innovative technical itineraries, in collaboration with farmers, collectors and processors. This participatory approach combines multi-stakeholder workshops and on-farm trials to establish the key features of existing practices, identify obstacles and propose practical solutions.
Discussions revealed complex obstacles to the introduction of these crops: lack of technical knowledge, yield variability, logistical costs associated with sorting and storage, financial risk-taking, low production volumes, and sometimes unclear quality criteria. In addition to these constraints, there is also variability in the demand for organic products (which has turned positive again since the start of the project) and international competition.
Some systemic solutions have been identified to address these challenges:
✔ Technical support and real‑world testing: encourage farmers to request it,
✔ Shared equipment (mobile sorters, storage),
✔ Clarification of quality criteria and sampling protocols to guarantee transparency and enhance the use of results,
✔ Optimisation of practices such as mowing and swathing to limit impurities.
Certain mixed cropping solutions, such as lentils and mustard, naked oats and fava beans or Hr peas (photoperiod-sensitive winter peas) intercropped with a winter cereal, are agronomically appealing and follow a demand that is constantly evolving, especially with new varieties entering the market.
Today, the fragmentation between stakeholders remains one of the major obstacles to the development of mixed cropping systems. Various stakeholders noted that this was the case during the project. They also believe that a better understanding of the constraints and expectations of each link in the chain would be beneficial to the development of a coherent, sustainable industry.
