The economic value of grain legume crops - a prototype calculation tool for growers

A prototype calculation tool  from task 3.4 of the LEGVALUE project

GOAL: Creation of a tool that might help to calculate the economic value of legumes for growers. The special feature of this prototype, using faba beans as an example, is the consideration of crop rotation effects and public ecosystem services provided by legumes. This tool should support farmers and advisors in their decisions. 

Methods: For the method, a desk research was undertaken to explore the existing tools. Then the prototype for the tool was designed. Based on the literature and farm level data the tool was exemplified with some recommended data. In the second step, this tool was presented and discussed with the stakeholders in order to validate this work.

Results: This tool, based on the example on faba bean, shows that the highest advantage of grain legumes is situated in their pre-crop effect. It should be noted that these pre-crop effects strongly depend on the following crop, the composition of the crop rotation and the chosen grain legume. The gaps of values for several public-ecosystem services is an indication of the need of further research activities in these topics.

Conclusion: This prototype can be developed further according to the needs of specific actors. They might be adapted to a chosen crop and country situation. Further research is needed for the quantification and valuation of public ecosystem services and the preceding crop effects like the phytosanitary advantages offered by legumes. It is planed to work continuously on this tool after the project LegValue. Feedbacks and collaborations to improve it are welcome.

Contacts: Bruno Kezeya (kezeya.bruno@fh-swf.de) and Marcus Mergenthaler (mergenthaler.marcus@fh-swf.de)