A preliminary analysis of the insurability of rapeseed crops grown without insecticides[Une première analyse de l'assurabilité d'un colza sans insecticides]

This study examines the possibility of agronomic and insurance mechanisms to support the phasing out of insecticides. Insurability is analyzed by comparing a conventional rapeseed crop with a "robust rapeseed", cultivated according to specific guidelines regarding planting and fertilization practices, with or without insecticides. The evaluation combines technical expertise regarding the impact of pests and the ability of the resilient rapeseed to limit their effects, regional yield distributions, and data from the "Bulletin de Santé du Végétal", in order to calibrate a model of losses due to pests. Yield losses without insecticide treatment are simulated using a copula-based approach, allowing for the analysis of the combined effects of different biological threats. The results indicate that, in the absence of insecticides, a conventional rapeseed crop subject to a 20% deductible would result in more than double the climate insurance premium (+130%), while adhering to the guidelines for "robust rapeseed" would limit this increase to +32%. The levels of premiums and deductibles suggest that a targeted subsidy for resilient rapeseed without insecticides could compensate for losses compared to the conventional system. However, resilient rapeseed with insecticides remains more economically advantageous, implying that an increase in the current subsidy would be necessary to equalize the deductibles.