Increasing soybean acreage in Europe
Soybean acreage has increased in Europe since 2012. This pulse has integrated European crop rotations, reaching more than one million hectares in 2023 within Member States. This reaches seven million hectares when Ukraine and Russia are taken into account. The financial support and subsidies of CAP 2023-2027 combine with national political policies to stimulate soybean crops in Europe, e.g. in France with the Plant Protein Stimulus Plan.
68 % of soya-growing land is concentrated in four countries.
Within the 28 member states of the European Union, Italy leads soybean production countries, occupying a third of surface area (350,000 hectares in 2023). The second third is covered by France (165,000 hectares); Romania (150,000 hectares) and Austria (85,000 hectares). Germany and Poland show very dynamic growth alongside the leading countries, having doubled their surface area in 4-5 years (44,800 hectares and 45,000 hectares in 2023 respectively). Outside the Union, Russia and Ukraine dominate European soya production, with several million hectares.
Cultivated acreage is spreading northwards
Soybean production is moving northwards with the introduction of very early-cropping, short-cycle varieties. This major trend is explained by the effects of climate change. Conditions are becoming favourable for growing soybean which has become a valuable addition to crop rotation plans. Its growth is ideal for deep soils with high available water capacity, as well as abundant rainfall. The challenge for farmers lies in choosing the right variety, fields and harvesting opportunities which remain scarce.
In central Europe, productions fluctuate, but are maintained whereas southern Europe shows stable production year on year.
RAGT, the pioneer in 000 early cropping varieties
The European soybean market is segmented into early cropping criteria. Four major groups are represented in Europe: 000 the earliest for the north; 00, 0 and group I for the south. As a pioneer in 000 varieties in the northern area, with the first variety registered in the French catalogue, RAGT now caters to all early cropping segments in Europe. It is backed up by over fifty years’ work dedicated to soya genetics which makes it a major and visionary European player.
