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2020

18.12.2020

DAMASYS project – the call for tenders is published on simap.ch
Agroscope is seeking to procure a data management system supporting agricultural crop research. Tenderers are invited to submit an offer by 26 February 2021.

07.12.2020

Potrait of Lutz Merbold: Head of Division since October
Lutz Merbold hopes to make a more positive impact on the climate debate in agriculture at Agroscope. Using agroecological approaches, he hopes to highlight potential solutions. More about him in our Portrait.

01.12.2020

Urgent Measures for Controlling Japanese Beetle
As the harmful Japanese beetle has now become established in Sottoceneri (canton of Ticino), the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture has ordered containment measures. These are intended to halt the further spread of this pest in Switzerland.

17.11.2020

Generous Sizing of Cubicles for Dairy Cows
An Agroscope study shows the adverse affect of cubicles that are too small on the lying behaviour of large cows in free stalls. New-builds must therefore be proactively geared to the future body size of cows.

10.11.2020

Steam Effective Against Cereal Diseases
Seed treatments are meant to protect germinating crops from diseases. Agroscope tested thermal treatment methods in association with fenaco.

05.11.2020

Positive Impacts on Yields and the Environment
Harnessing the forces of nature and agricultural practice in all its variety brings benefits. This is the conclusion of an international study which was published in the journal ‘Science Advances’.

22.10.2020

Wild Bees Fly for Research
What stresses wild bees? In this video, Matthias Albrecht outlines the initial findings of the trials and shows what is needed to develop effective mitigation measures.

06.10.2020

LabourScope – The Work Budget for Agriculture and Housekeeping
How much time does it take to perform the individual activities on a farm? Are all those involved satisfied with the distribution of the work? How could the distribution be further improved?

29.09.2020

High-Risk Plant Protection Products – Is Effective Crop Protection Possible Without Them?
Agroscope examined whether it is possible to forgo the use of PPPs with a high risk potential for the environment. The results show that this would make effective crop protection more difficult, especially for field and vegetable crops, but also in organic farming.

28.09.2020

Sown Wildflower Strips and Hedgerows – Good for Pest Control, Pollination and Yields?
Sown wildflower strips improve pest control, and diverse, perennial strips also improve pollination services. Hedgerows in Switzerland yielded good results, while internationally effects were inconsistent. The effects on yield were variable.

23.09.2020

Lactic Acid Bacteria Could Contribute to Healthy Gut Flora
Can the human gut microbiome be optimised through the dietary uptake of certain bacteria? Researchers from Agroscope and the University of Bern analysed the potential of lactic acid bacteria from the Liebefeld strain collection in this respect. For a century now, the bacteria have been isolated and collected from Swiss dairies and archived at Agroscope.

22.09.2020

For Healthier, More Efficient and Resistant Livestock: Agroscope Strengthens Livestock Research
With the new ‘Animal GenoPhenomics’ Research Group, Agroscope is strengthening livestock research and interdisciplinary networking, tapping into new findings and opportunities for synergy, especially in the fields of animal breeding and animal health.

18.09.2020

Traditional Foods as Alternatives to Synthetic Compounds
A strong immune system is important for health. Foods that are rich in propionic acid, such as Emmental cheese, have a supportive effect, and are a possible alternative to compounds with synthetically produced propionic acid.

15.09.2020

Almond Trees in Switzerland: Pipe Dream or Opportunity?
Can growing almond trees be a new way forward for Swiss fruit growing? What is the potential here in terms of production and marketing? Answers to these questions are being provided by Agroscope researchers in partnership with representatives from practice and administration.

11.09.2020

The new agroscope magazine is out
agroscope will be published several times a year, and feature highlights from Agroscope research.

09.09.2020

Lutz Merbold Joins the Agroscope Executive Board
As of 1 October 2020, Lutz Merbold becomes the new Head of the ‘Agroecology and Environment’ Strategic Research Division at Agroscope, thereby also becoming a Member of the Executive Board.

31.08.2020

Measuring Life in the Soil
Microbial activity in the soil is an indicator of soil health. An analysis of data series from the cantonal soil-monitoring networks over a ten-year period confirms textbook knowledge and shows what we need to look out for.

25.08.2020

Organic Pollutants in Soils and Sediments
Researchers from Agroscope, Eawag and ETH have developed a method for the comprehensive detection of organic pollutant residues in soils and sediments. Initial results show that, in addition to known substances, there are also a number of substances detected for the first time.

21.08.2020

Climate-Friendly Soil Management
The European Joint Programme aims to promote climate-friendly soil management in agriculture, i.e. soil-management systems that contribute to the preservation of ecosystem services.

18.08.2020

What is the Current State of Cultivated Peat Soils?
Former peatlands now used for agricultural purposes require adapted forms of use to allow for a substantial reduction of their high CO2 emissions.

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