The third largest soybean crop ever harvested from fields in the EU

The third largest soybean crop ever harvested from fields in the European Union (EU) in 2023, although growing conditions were far from ideal, German news portal Agrarheute reports.

But even a very good 2023 crop is only a drop in the ocean, according to industry analysts. The EU consumes about 16 million tons of soybeans. The EU imports about 85% of the soybeans consumed domestically. Most of the soybeans are used for animal feed.

The EU relies heavily on soybean imports to meet its protein needs. The bloc’s countries produce soybeans on only 1.7% of their cultivated area. But interest in soybean production is growing, and soybean acreage in Europe has nearly tripled in a decade.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates global soybean production for 2023 at 400 million tons. The European Commission estimates total annual demand for plant protein at 27 million tons, of which 93% is needed for animal feed and less than 1% for human consumption.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the biggest challenges to crop expansion in the near term will be droughts and heat waves. Current projections point to further increases in soybean acreage and yields in Central Europe. On the other hand, production in Southern Europe is becoming increasingly dependent on irrigation.

The increase in soybean acreage in the EU is driven by a combination of factors, including high purchase prices for imported soybeans, growing demand for local non-GM soybeans, and high fertilizer prices.

Feed demand is driving the EU soybean market. Meanwhile, most states in the bloc report annual declines in livestock numbers and consequent imports of soybeans and soybean meal. The number of livestock farms in Europe has fallen by 40% in 10 years, according to the EU agriculture commissioner.

Tags: EU, soybean