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Rethinking Oil Crop Strategies: Climate Adaptation and Alternatives to Rapeseed in Central Europe

This article was prepared as part of the project KNOWING Climate, which aims to raise awareness and promote knowledge-based adaptation strategies for agriculture in the context of climate change.

Introduction

As climate variability accelerates and Europe grapples with longer dry spells, hotter summers, and unpredictable rainfall patterns, the question of how to adapt agricultural systems has taken on new urgency. This is particularly true for oilseed cultivation, a core part of arable farming in Central Europe.

Beyond changing rainfall and temperature patterns, climate impacts are directly linked to the resource intensity of crop production. The manufacture of synthetic fertilizers is particularly climate-relevant: producing mineral nitrogen fertilizer is energy-intensive and relies predominantly on natural gas—making it a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Recent supply disruptions, such as those triggered by the war in Ukraine, have highlighted the value of organic fertilizers such as manure and slurry as alternatives. Each additional input, whether fertilizer, pesticide, or even fuel for field operations, increases both production costs for farmers and the environmental footprint of agriculture. While the production and transport of pesticides add to energy use, their primary impact lies in ecological side-effects—such as reduced biodiversity and risks to groundwater—which, in turn, undermine the long-term climate resilience of agricultural landscapes. Therefore, reducing input needs is beneficial both for climate protection and for the sustainability of farming systems.

A key aspect often overlooked in the climate debate around crop choices is the role of nitrogen fertilizer and its associated greenhouse gas emissions. Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, essential for achieving high yields in many oil crops, are a major source of nitrous oxide (N₂O)—a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 260 to 300 times greater than carbon dioxide, depending on the assessment. Crops with high nitrogen input requirements, such as rapeseed, therefore carry a significant hidden climate cost. Reducing nitrogen application not only lowers production costs but is also crucial for climate mitigation, as every kilogram saved helps prevent potent climate-damaging emissions. Thus, crops that require little or no nitrogen fertilizer—such as hemp, camelina, and soybean (which can fix atmospheric nitrogen)—offer clear advantages for climate-friendly agriculture, provided that crop quality and yield remain sufficient for market needs.

Rapeseed (canola) has long been the dominant oil crop in Germany; valued for its high yield, market demand, and co-product potential. However, its vulnerability to drought and heat stress, combined with its high fertilizer and pesticide input needs, raises concerns about its long-term suitability in a changing climate.

This opens up a key question: What alternatives exist — and under what conditions do they make sense? What crops can offer a more climate-resilient, low-input pathway forward for Central European farmers?

To explore these questions, we conducted a comparative analysis of five oil crops: rapeseed, sunflower, hemp, camelina (Leindotter), and soybean; assessing criteria such as drought tolerance, fertilizer and pesticide input requirements, water use, soil impact, and yield stability. We also examined their regional suitability across Germany to understand where these alternatives could take root as viable diversification strategies.

Summary of Findings: Climate-Adapted Alternatives to Rapeseed

Sunflower – The Robust All-Rounder

Sunflower shows strong drought and heat resilience, thanks to its deep rooting system and flexible water use. It thrives in eastern Germany, especially in Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, where warm summers and flat terrain dominate. Smaller areas in southern Germany, including Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, also support sunflower cultivation. The crop requires moderate input, tolerates sandy soils, and copes better with summer dryness than rapeseed. Though still niche in Germany, sunflower production doubled in 2022 due to high prices and favorable weather. The main challenge remains the lack of regionally adapted varieties and infrastructure for processing.

Camelina – The Drought Champion for Marginal Soils

Camelina (Leindotter) excels in low-input, climate-stressed environments. It tolerates drought, late frosts, and light soils with low fertility — making it ideal for Brandenburg, northern Lower Saxony, and other sandy or marginal regions. It can grow where rapeseed or corn would fail without heavy inputs. Thanks to its short growth cycle and minimal fertilization needs, camelina is well suited for organic farming, intercropping, and eco-schemes. While its oil yield is modest, its agronomic advantages and resilience make it a valuable alternative.

Hemp – A Soil-Friendly Allrounder with Expanding Appeal

Hemp is cultivated across northern and eastern Germany, especially in Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, and Saxony-Anhalt. It adapts to a wide range of soil types, tolerates moderate drought, and provides several agronomic benefits: its deep taproots improve soil structure, its dense canopy suppresses weeds, and it requires minimal pesticides or fertilization. These traits have made it especially attractive for organic farming and soil regeneration systems.

Hemp grown for oil is cultivated primarily for its seeds, which are pressed to produce a healthy, omega-rich edible oil. However, there are currently legal restrictions (certification processes, cultivation restrictions, “misuse clauses” etc.) in place affecting hemp’s scalability. Despite these controls, hemp qualifies for basic EU payments. It is also particularly common in organic systems: over 50% of hemp hectares in Germany are organically certified.

Soybean – A Climate Opportunity in the South (and Beyond)

Soybean has become a regional success in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, which together account for nearly 70% of Germany’s soy area. These regions offer long frost-free periods and sufficient summer warmth. Early maturing varieties are also making their way into Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Brandenburg. Soy is a low-emission, nitrogen-fixing crop, which contributes to soil fertility. However, it’s sensitive to drought during flowering and still requires consistent rainfall or moisture. As climate warms, northern regions (e.g. Lower Saxony, NRW) may also become viable for soy cultivation.

Rapeseed – High Yield, But High Input and High Risk

Rapeseed remains Germany’s main oil crop, especially in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein. These regions offer large-scale, fertile lands and enough winter moisture for establishment. However, rapeseed is highly sensitive to spring droughts — which are becoming more frequent — and has the highest input needs among oil crops. Its yields fluctuate dramatically in hot or dry years (e.g. -36% in 2018), and it requires heavy fertilization and pesticide use, especially in conventional systems. For farms in more climate-stable areas, it may remain viable, but its future is uncertain in drought-prone or low-input systems.

Looking Ahead: Building Resilience Through Crop Diversity

Our findings highlight a central theme: climate adaptation is regional. Each crop brings different strengths — whether it’s camelina’s drought tolerance, hemp’s soil benefits, or soybean’s nitrogen-fixing properties — and each region has its own constraints and opportunities.

To move beyond a rapeseed-dominated system, farmers and planners need:

Crop- and region-specific guidance,
Support for low-input and organic transitions,
Improved access to adapted varieties and markets,
Support for oilseed processing infrastructure and,
Policy frameworks that reward ecosystem services and diversification.

The good news: Germany’s existing regional diversity makes it well-positioned to lead the shift. From sandy heathlands to fertile plains, there is room for a smart mosaic of oil crops that buffer climate risks, reduce inputs, and keep fields productive — even under tougher conditions

Final Thoughts: Shaping the Future of Oilseed Agriculture

In conclusion, adapting oilseed cropping systems to climate change is both a challenge and an opportunity for Central Europe. By embracing regional diversity, low-input crops, and innovative management practices, the agricultural sector can reduce its climate footprint while maintaining productivity and supporting rural livelihoods. Achieving this vision requires coordinated efforts across policy, research, and farming communities to foster resilient, sustainable oil crop production systems that are fit for the future.

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