NANCY Seminar – Raluca PARVULESCU (LEM-IESEG)

Event details :

Title: Analysis of the technical and economic performance of legume-rich farming systems: an assessment of the French DEPHY farms, co-written with Jean-Philippe BOUSSEMART, Romain ESCASSUT-NANDILLON, Maé GUINET, Salomé KAHINDO, and Nicolas MUNIER-JOLAIN

Abstract: Crop diversification is widely recognized as an effective strategy to address food security and environmental challenges in modern agriculture. This study evaluates the technical and economic performance of diversified cropping systems incorporating legumes, which enrich the soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, reducing reliance on fertilizers and pesticides. We compare two strategies: maximizing plant protein production and maximizing revenue. Using quantity-based and value-based non-parametric free-disposal hull (FDH) efficiency frontiers, we assess the potential expansion of legumes while accounting for productive, spatial, and market heterogeneities. First, we evaluate each strategy’s potential by identifying best practices. Results show that protein maximization fosters diversification, while revenue maximization does not, as legume prices remain too low. To address this, we simulate price increases (5%–200%) to determine the threshold at which legumes become economically viable. Our dataset includes 699 DEPHY network cropping systems across France, categorized by production type and soil water retention. A spatial constraint (75 km) ensures meaningful efficiency comparisons. Our findings highlight the need for market-oriented policies to enhance legume profitability and incentivize their adoption.