Impact of the introduction of cereal–legume intercropping systems on the supply chains

Intercropping (the simultaneous cultivation of at least two species on the same plot) is one way of partially addressing the challenges faced by the organic sector. The aim of this article is to identify the consequences of its implementation, as well as the degree of compatibility in terms of: i) the farming systems of 18 farmers in Lorraine and ii) the logistical organisation of cooperatives in Midi-Pyrénées that collect durum wheat and of two cooperatives that have already experimented with these mixtures (Terrena and AgriBioUnion). The findings of our research show that intercropping is, in principle, compatible with farming systems in Lorraine and with the current logistical organisation of the cooperatives, but that the main obstacle to its development lies in the feasibility and cost of grain sorting. The constraints and benefits arising from these intercropping practices must therefore be analysed in greater detail at every stage of the supply chain in order to collectively develop solutions.