Although crop diversification is one of the main strategy of agroecological transition, a
major obstacle is the lack of local references regarding new crops. Land suitability methods can
provide a rapid screening of crop suitability in a region. However, mainstream methods are mainly
based on assessing soil and climate suitability, whereas it is fundamental to know where and how
a new crop can be introduced into existing crop rotations and whether this introduction would be
profitable. Our method based on recent advances in the characterization of cropping systems at the
regional level can be exploited to evaluate: (1) the yield potential of the new crop, (2) the potential of
this new crop being successfully introduced into ongoing crop rotations; (3) the economic benefits of
such an introduction. The method was tested for the possible introduction of new soybean varieties
in northern France. The method developed has relevance beyond the case study. Our method could
also be easily adapted to rapidly assess the potential for introducing new crops in cases where there
climate database, soil map information and a Land Parcel Identification System are available.
