Faba bean seeds are rich in starch and protein (24–27% depending on the cultivar) and, depending on vicine and convicine content, can be suitable for both human and animal consumption.
Like all legumes, faba bean has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen thanks to their nodules, and can be used therefore as a relay crop in the rotation (after a crop that leaves low nitrogen in the soil and before a more nitrogen-demanding crop). Furthermore, faba bean is not sensitive to the Aphanomyces euteiches pathogen, which does not multiply in this species. It allows to maintain a protein crop in the rotation without increasing the level of soil infestation.
Faba beans lose their leaves at maturity, leading to a tendency of field weediness at the end of crop cycle. As highlighted by literature and the INTERREG SymBIOse project, intercropping represents an interesting lever for controlling weeds and limiting the pressure of pests, thereby securing yields.
Lack of knowledge about the opportunities for intercropping and how combine the right species and cultivar, can be a barrier to the adoption of this agricultural practice. As part of the SymBIOse project, the information needed to choose and manage intercrops has been compiled for faba beans and other pulses (protein peas, lentils, lupins).
Study of pulses production chains highlight the need to develop sorting sites to enable farmers to correctly orientate the harvest towards human or animal nutrition, and thus optimise its valorisation. This lever is essential to support an increase of faba beans intercrop cultivation, as well as other pulses intercrops, and to benefit from the ecosystem services provided by these crops.
