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Soybean: Terres Inovia joins a research project for a local and sustainable soybean

17 Feb 2023

Terres Inovia is mobilizing its expertise to participate in a large-scale multi-partner research project within the framework of the France 2030 Investment Plan: SOYSTAINABLE. Coordinated by the Paul Sabatier University of Toulouse, this six-year project will aim to develop the cultivation of a local and sustainable French soybean, in particular for new outlets in human nutrition. The kick-off meeting took place on February 9 and 10, 2023.
A favorable context: producing local soybeans to meet a fast-growing market

Considered as one of the best sources of vegetable proteins, soybeans are a plant that can be used for many purposes, both in human and animal nutrition. From an agronomic point of view, it is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with a bacterium, emits little greenhouse gas and is, for the moment, not very sensitive to diseases and pests. Soybeans therefore require little phytosanitary treatment compared to other cultivated legumes.

France imports 90% of its soybeans and its current strategy is to increase local soybean production to meet the needs of a fast-growing market. This objective is also in line with the agro-ecological transition: soy is a multi-service crop that helps increase biodiversity and promotes soil improvement.
Relaunching soybean research in a coordinated manner

To develop new non-GMO soybean varieties in France that are adapted to the food market and
market and to the soil and climate conditions of the various production basins, SOYSTAINABLE was created as part of the France 2030 investment plan.

Managed by the ANR and coordinated by the University of Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, this six-year project, entitled "Towards a local and sustainable soy protein source in human food that is resilient to climate change", held its kick-off meeting on February 9 and 10, 2023 in Toulouse.

Around the University of Toulouse, it brings together several partners: CNRS, INRAE, Unilasalle, Purpan, Paris-Saclay, the University of Caen Normandy and, of course, Terres Inovia. "This project is an excellent opportunity to relaunch, in a coordinated manner, research on this plant of the future, in which the institute has been interested for more than sixty years," says Xavier Pinochet, expert in the research operations department at Terres Inovia, who is actively involved in the project.

Two other Terres Inovia collaborators are particularly involved: Claire Barbet-Massin, who is in charge of genetics studies on seed legumes, and Hélène Tribouillois, who is in charge of ecophysiology studies. It will also eventually involve the experimental stations. "The project will be based, at the experimental level, on the Soybean Observatory, which includes some 40 farmer plots per year, and on traditional systems for varieties, ecophysiology and water supply.
Microbiology and abiotic stress on the program

For six years, SOYSTAINABLE will strive to improve production by working in two areas in particular: abiotic stresses (water supply and cold resistance) and microbiology (establishment and functioning of symbiosis and rhizospheric microflora). "Terres Inovia will contribute its expertise in microbiology, ecophysiology, agronomy, genetics and plant improvement, without forgetting the aspects of construction and operation of the sectors," Claire Barbet-Massin and Xavier Pinochet said.

The project also seeks to improve production both in historical production areas (South-West, Burgundy, Alsace) and in new basins (such as the West of France and the Paris basin).

 

 

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Identity sheet of SOYSTAINABLE

The objective
To promote quality food production rich in proteins in France by generating new resources and practices for a locally adapted soybean crop

The duration
Six years (2023-2030)

The partners
The project involves 7 academic partners (University of Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, INRAE, CNRS, University of Caen Normandy, University of Paris-Saclay, Purpan engineering school, UniLaSalle polytechnic institute) and 5 private partners (Lidea, RAGT 2N, De Sangosse, Terres Inovia, Les jardins de l'opéra), i.e. 8 research units and 7 technological platforms.

Research areas
1.to create European collections of early maturity group soybeans with induced or natural genetic diversity;
2.to improve the quality of soybeans for human consumption (digestibility, organoleptic characteristics) without affecting their physiology and tolerance to stress
Evaluate and develop locally adapted soybean varieties (early sowing, resilience to climate change);
Capture the microbial diversity of French soils and optimize synthetic communities of beneficial microorganisms for soybean in France;
5.develop agronomic modeling of soybean cultivation to predict its performance at different locations in France and propose decision-making tools for farmers
6. better understand what hinders the development of soybean in human food in France and explore new uses of soybean as a fresh unprocessed product.

 

 

For more information: see the press release (attached)

 

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