Development of organic legumes value chain at a regional scale (Vendée, France)

Legume crops have a determining position in the development of organic sectors in France, providing animal feed mainly but also human food. One of the great challenges is to develop / organize organic based-legume value chains to achieve self-sufficiency. Currently, organic animal feed and human food rely on imports which respond to the needs of the operators in terms of volume and quality (especially for soybean grains and meals).

The case study will focus on pea, fababean, soybean, lentil and chick pea ‘value chains. We will take CAVAC in example, a grains collector of the northwest of France. As a collector, CAVAC makes the link between farmers who bring organic legume grains and feed and food primary users / processors. The features of  CAVAC in these different value chains will be evaluated and reviewed using surveys and interviews to include food primary user / processor and feed primary user / processor who are involved in legume sector and will aim to establish their benefits and constraints experienced.