The cultures of gluten free seeds intended for human food, Guillaume Verneuil finds an agronomic interest in it: it allows a diversification of its rotations. On its Montreuil-Bellay farm, south of Saumur (Maine-et-Loire), the quinoa and the buckwheat replace rapeseed.
Diversification is also the way to be eligible for Pac aid. “Rapeseed is paid €500/t, quinoa is something equivalent, but with less costs since there are no phytos, no weeding, and this is even more true for buckwheat,” observes the cereal grower. This year, he had planted 18 ha. With the new factory of the Pays de la Loire Agricultural Cooperative (CAPL) of which he is a member, the needs will increase, he will be able to sow more. I would like to do chickpea and the lensall these protein crops which allow nitrogen to be returned to the soil for the next crop.”
This sorting, drying and hulling factory that the coop has just inaugurated in Longué-Jumelles (Maine-et-Loire) is sized to accommodate 25,000 tonnes of grain per yearwhich doubles the capacity of the CAPL. Objective: increase from 7,000 to 10,000 hectares of crops. The production of gluten free seeds currently represents 9% of the areas cultivated by members.
Purity requirement
Nine types of seeds intended for human consumption pass through this site called Perles d’Anjou: quinoa, lentils, chickpeas, sorgho blanc, milletbuckwheat, lin, eyelet et chia. “Our clients are looking for innovation, changes in food trends, we follow this market,” explains Sébastien Beauvallet, director of cereal activities at CAPL. Perles d’Anjou has its own brand but it is also a major supplier of brands such as Tipiak, Lustucru or Panzani, 60 clients in total.
The site is guaranteed gluten-free, which is unique. THE triage ensures seed purity of 99.95% to meet the quality and traceability standards expected in terms of food safety. “In fact, it is throughout the chain, from the harvest, that we have a system to guarantee the purity of gluten-free seeds,” assures Sébastien Beauvallet. Focusing on gluten-free involves additional technical constraints, but it allows us to access higher value added markets. »
Develop legumes
Of the nine types of seeds, quinoa takes the lion’s share with no less than a third of the total volume. CAPL launched into this production around fifteen years ago, which gives it know-how and an edge. 350 of its members produce it, or around 1,800 ha (2,500 t). This makes Maine-et-Loire the leading quinoa production area in France, but two thirds of French consumption is imported.
Although the sector is still very small, establishing itself in it is important and strategic for CAPL. The Angevin cooperative could well continue its diversification strategy in the years to come, develop dried vegetables and other protein crops which are strong growth markets, around 4 to 5% per year since Covid. Each French person consumes on average 2 kg/year, which was four times more a century ago. So there is room for progress.
“We have been involved in sector contracts for around twenty years with buyers, for us it is natural to respond to the demands of these customers,” says the president of the cooperative Christian Blet. The production of lentils and chickpeas could thus double in the long term, and increase to 2,000 tonnes for each of these species.
Rigorous monitoring, delicate harvest
However, the conditions must be met to produce them, particularly pedoclimatic ones. “These are risky cropsrecognizes Christian Blet. In our clay-limestone soils, one year in three is difficult, it is difficult to bring up the seeds. »
Generally speaking, these crops intended for human food require technicality and a rigorous monitoring. Not all cooperative members necessarily want to get involved. Didier Haigneré, for example, in Ingrandes-Le-Fresne. “There is a lot of monitoring, I try to simplify my rotations as much as possible so as not to spend too much time on my crops because I have another activity,” explains the farmer.
Technicians support farmers in growing these specialized crops, and a pool of agricultural work companies carry out the harvest. “The problem of harvest is now settled, we do a pre-cut for the buckwheat or quinoa,” says the director of the cooperative’s cereal activities. All producers have the obligation to fly a drone over their crops, a few days before the harvester passes, to map the plot and detect the plants. datura (80 €/ha). This invasive and toxic plant must absolutely be uprooted.
Diversify your rotations
“It is perhaps less relaxing to grow these crops for human consumption, but it is more enriching,” estimates Guillaume Verneuil, who is also an administrator of the cooperative. Diversifying the crop rotation by inserting these crops makes it possible to break the cycles and reduce pest, weed and disease problems.
And then “this allows don’t put all your eggs in one basketthis summer wheat yields fell by 38% while those of lentils and quinoa remained stable,” argues Sébastien Beauvallet. As for remuneration, the gross margin is equivalent to 1.5 times that of wheat or rapeseed, assures the director of cereal activities at CAPL.
A little less than a third of the 1,500 cereal suppliers produce these seeds for human consumption. A share that is expected to grow in the years to come.