A first modeling approach was used to understand the behavior of folate in cowpea seeds during soaking at different temperatures (30¿°C, 60¿°C and 95¿°C). Folic acid, 10-formylfolic acid, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate were quantified in both the seeds and the soaking water during the process. A 2D-axisymmetric seed soaking simulator was then built considering these 4 folate vitamers to simultaneously describe diffusion, oxidation and interconversion of the single vitamers. The model adjustments revealed the predominance of folate diffusion at 60¿°C and 95¿°C (apparent diffusivity 2–3¿×¿10-11¿m2¿s-1) whereas at 30¿°C enzymatic interconversions of all vitamers into 5-methyltetrahydrofolate were observed (reaction rate of 8.0¿×¿10-5 s-1 for 5-formyltetrahydrofolate). The results of this study allow us to recommend a preliminary soaking step to retain folate in seeds and to improve the bioavailability of folates for human nutrition.