New VALPRO Path Research Published: What Drives Soybean and Faba Bean Yields in Europe?

A new open-access research article has been published, highlighting the key factors behind yield gaps in European grain legumes, with a focus on soybean and faba bean production across Europe.

The paper, titled “Pedoclimatic, knowledge and management factors drive European soybean and faba bean yields” (published on 24 November 2025 in Agronomy for Sustainable Development), sheds light on how climate, soil, farmer experience, and farm management strongly influence crop performance.

Based on a large-scale online survey of farmers in nine European countries, the research shows that:

• Country and local climatic conditions are the strongest drivers of yield differences.
• Farmer experience and knowledge play a crucial role, especially for soybean, which has a shorter tradition of cultivation in many European regions.
• For soybeans, yields are also influenced by farm specialisation, the number of years growing legumes, climate zone, and farm size.
• For faba bean, key drivers include pest management and perceived soil fertility.

Farmers identified drought, weed pressure, and soil characteristics as the main yield-limiting factors for both crops, while inoculation and irrigation were highlighted as particularly important for soybean production.

This new publication strongly aligns with the objectives of VALPRO Path by providing evidence-based insights to support the transition towards more resilient, knowledge-driven, and sustainable plant protein value chains in Europe.