In a context of increasing variability of weather conditions and prices, robustness is becoming a required characteristic of
farming and cropping systems. We propose and test an indicator of cropping systems robustness based on gross margin
variations. The method probably leads to underestimate gross margin variability because of the input data, the indicator
appeared sensitive. However, it allowed to identify the variability of the major variation factors and, above all, to evaluate
ex-ante several alternative cropping systems in a test loops design process. The method will be tested on several arable
cropping systems besides other tools to forecast yields variability.
