Germany seeks alternatives to rapeseed

Rapeseed is the most important oilseed crop, providing high yields, strong market demand, and valuable by-products. However, it is vulnerable to drought and heat, and requires high levels of fertilizers and plant protection products. This raises questions about its long-term suitability under climate change. Alternatives to rapeseed are being explored within the EU project “Climate Knowledge.”

The project involves researchers from the Baltic Environmental Forum Germany (BEF) and the district of Herzogtum Lauenburg, writes Karl Bockholt for the German agri-portal Agrarheute. While rapeseed is a valuable crop, it is sensitive to spring drought and costly to cultivate. In hot years, yields fluctuate significantly. In more stable regions of Germany, rapeseed remains highly profitable, but in drought-prone areas its future is uncertain. Alternatives under consideration include soybeans, sunflowers, hemp, and camelina.

Climate Change Favors Soybeans

Soybeans are becoming increasingly successful, especially in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, which account for nearly 70% of Germany’s soybean area. These regions benefit from long frost-free periods and warm summers. The nitrogen-fixing ability of rhizobial bacteria is advantageous, though inoculation is required.

Early soybean varieties are now also being cultivated in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Brandenburg. Soybeans are a low-emission, nitrogen-fixing crop that improves soil fertility. However, they are sensitive to drought during flowering and require regular rainfall and moisture. With global warming, more northern regions such as Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia are becoming increasingly suitable for soybean cultivation.

Sunflowers: Drought-Resistant and Heat-Tolerant

Sunflowers are highly resistant to drought and heat, with deep roots that make efficient use of water. The crop grows particularly well in eastern Germany, such as Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, where summers are warm and landscapes are open. Some southern regions, including Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, are also suitable.

Sunflowers are relatively easy to grow, perform well on sandy soils, and withstand summer drought better than rapeseed. Although still a niche crop in Germany, production is expanding due to high prices and favorable weather. Key challenges remain the lack of regionally adapted varieties and an underdeveloped processing infrastructure.

Industrial Hemp: A Soil-Friendly Crop

Industrial hemp is mainly cultivated in northern and eastern Germany, particularly in Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, and Saxony-Anhalt. It adapts well to different soils, tolerates moderate drought, and offers agronomic benefits: its deep taproot improves soil structure, while dense foliage suppresses weeds. Hemp requires only minimal use of pesticides and fertilizers, making it highly valued in organic farming and soil remediation.

Hemp seeds produce a nutritious oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids. However, scaling up production is constrained by strict legal requirements in Germany, including certification, cultivation restrictions, and misuse regulations. At the same time, hemp qualifies for EU basic payments. About half of Germany’s hemp acreage is organically certified.

Camelina: Suited for Poor Soils and Harsh Climates

Camelina thrives in regions with difficult climates and requires little fertilizer. It tolerates drought, late frosts, and poor soils, making it well-suited for Brandenburg, northern Lower Saxony, and other sandy regions. Camelina can be grown where rapeseed or corn perform poorly, without the need for intensive fertilization.

With its short growth cycle and minimal fertilizer requirements, camelina fits well into organic farming, mixed cropping, and ecological programs. Although its oil yield is modest, its agronomic benefits and resilience may make it a future alternative to rapeseed under climate change conditions.

Tags: rapeseed, Germany, camelina