What are the impacts of climate change on agriculture, crops and livestock? And how should agriculture tackle the challenges? We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers.
Arable crops in a changing climate
What measures can be taken to mitigate the effects of drought and low groundwater levels on agriculture? Are some crops better able to withstand drought?
Assuming an increasing risk of drought, the key to mid- and long-term adaptation is to consider which crops (if any) should be grown in a particular location. Drought-resistant crops and cultivars are becoming more important. Diversification can also help, i.e. growing several different types of crops, so if the yield of one crop is low, another can mitigate the impact.
NZZ-Artikel über Kartoffeläcker (only german)
Apart from drought, climate change can also make heavy rainfall and extreme wetness much more common. What strategies apply to these scenarios?
Areas likely to be affected by heavy rainfall or extreme wetness require crops that can cope with these conditions. Extreme wetness adversely affects harvesting operations and restricts the use of heavy machines in the field (risk of soil compaction). Extreme wetness is also a crop protection issue because it encourages diseases.
Agroscope is investigating among other things flooded rice cultivation as a means of managing extreme wetness. Of course, paddy fields still need irrigating in dry years, so they should be located close to a body of water. However, in wet years, the paddy system means that yields on these wet plots are guaranteed.
What progress is being made in plant breeding, for example to find wheat varieties which can withstand future weather extremes?
Wheat is grown on every continent on earth, from cold northern climates such as Finland to the arid heat of Kenya. This is because of its ability to diversify and adapt to stress, such as heat or diseases prevalent in the respective regions. Based on climate scenarios and projections of future disease distributions, Agroscope selects adapted varieties. But it’s a slow process; it takes 10 to 15 years to obtain a new variety. Agroscope is harnessing the diversity of wheat by using genetic material from all over the world.
What measures are needed to mitigate increasing drought and weather extremes in fruit and vegetable growing?
Unlike tree crops (forestry plantations, orchards), vegetable crops are shallow-rooted and so unable to draw on water reserves in deeper soil layers during periods of summer drought. As a result, they depend on a continuous water supply and must be irrigated. Sufficient rainfall in spring can help by replenishing springs and bodies of water (including groundwater), thus providing an adequate supply of irrigation water for the summer months.
Decision-making tools are needed to ensure optimal, sustainable irrigation. The online platform ‘Agrometeo’ is one such system: agrometeo.ch
Some developments in Smart Farming can also help address the problems: smartfarming.agroscope.ch
The irrigation of apple trees is a concrete example: Self-irrigating apple trees
Water availability is also an increasing problem in fruit cultivation. Humus enrichment, water-storage aggregates such as biochar and mulching techniques to reduce water losses can bridge shorter periods of drought. Irrigation is also becoming more important in fruit cultivation: Präventives Wassermanagement im Obstbau (only german and french)
Can we grow crops in Switzerland that have not been grown here before?
Crops such as sorghum (a type of millet), chickpeas, sweet potatoes and even olive trees can adapt to the changing climate in Switzerland. But existing varieties of these crops are adapted more to heat and drought than alternating hot and cold periods. So Agroscope is creating new varieties which are suitable for the transition; in other words, ones which can withstand occasional cold periods as well as heat.
Millet is well-adapted to warm, dry conditions. Agroscope has been researching the millet species sorghum for several years: Growing Sorghum in Switzerland – Interdisciplinary Research in the Year of Millets
Will exotic plants such as mangoes soon be grown here too?
Exotic plants or varieties which are very heat- and drought-tolerant are an attractive proposition, but there would have to be a demand for these products in order to sell them.
In addition to the sorghum mentioned above, Agroscope has also conducted preliminary trials with almond trees:
Growing Almonds in Switzerland
Article in BauernZeitung on growing almonds in switzerland (only in german)
Quinoa and amaranth have also been investigated:
Livestock farming in a changing climate
We can expect more heat waves in future. What does this mean for cows?
The optimum temperature for dairy cows is much lower than for people. Dairy cows can suffer from heat stress, even at 16°C. Livestock farming must adapt to ensure animal welfare and productivity. Fans and misting systems in the cow shed help keep cows cool and reduce heat stress. Out in the fields, shade and water are essential. When temperatures are high, cattle must be brought back indoors where it is cooler. Water availability on pastures can be a problem – helicopters are already bringing water to certain areas in the Jura and the Alps.
How can we produce enough feed for cattle despite drought?
Selected clover-grass mixes produce good yields even in times of drought and thus sufficient forage for our livestock. Agroscope is continually testing forage crop varieties and developing mixes for Swiss forage production that are adapted to local conditions.
Forage, Grassland, Grazing Systems
Furthermore, Agroscope is investigating possible applications for drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum. Agroscope is testing the agronomic properties of sorghum and its qualities as a forage.
An die Trockenheit angepasste Futterbau-Mischungen im Berggebiet (only in german, french and italian)
Managing extreme events
How can we better prepare for dry summers?
The question of irrigation options is often raised. For producers, it is more a matter of available infrastructure, water sources, and costs, bearing in mind that water expenditure on Swiss farms has increased in the last thirty years. The cantons also need to act, as they are responsible for water extraction permits. Regional planning tools are needed to address the problem of declining water availability.
Rising Expenditure for Water Use in Agriculture - Swiss Agricultural Research
Decision-making tools such as the Agrometeo platform and soil moisture monitoring networks such as www.bodenmessnetz.ch are needed for optimal, sustainable irrigation.
Remote sensing technologies provide practitioners with information to guide decision-making: Earth Observation of Agroecosystems
How much water will Swiss agricultural need in future?
Water scarcity is a Europe-wide problem for agriculture. According to the ‘Demand for irrigation’ map in the Geocatalog (https://map.geo.admin.ch), approx. 40% of arable land today requires irrigation. It is important to make best use of regional water sources, especially as adequate resources are not available everywhere. Model calculations show how climate change will affect the water requirement for different crops grown on the Swiss Plateau. This will allow us to proactively plan for crop irrigation and adaptation to the changing climate.
How Much More Water Will Swiss Crops Need in Future? - Swiss Agricultural Research
What approaches to water management are helpful?
The key is to use water sustainably. Digital farming solutions which use sensors to monitor moisture levels can help optimise the irrigation of potatoes, fruit, berries, vines and vegetables. In fruit and vegetable cultivation, trickle irrigation systems use water more efficiently than sprinkler systems. The downside is that the infrastructure is more expensive.
Is water storage an option?
Storing water tends to be complex and expensive. For this reason, Agroscope is also examining other approaches, such as agroforestry production methods. This practice relies on the ability of trees to bring water to the surface from deep underground. Agroforestry systems promote soil fertility and reduce soil erosion. Fertile soil has a higher water-holding capacity and better uptake capacity. Agroforestry systems also help protect the climate by sequestering carbon dioxide
Agroforestry as a New Land-Use Form
We need to exploit the potential of cultivation systems to better conserve water in soil. Crop rotations can be optimised. Section 6.5.2 Alternative Wasserressourcen of the report Klimaresilienter Ackerbau 2035 (in German) outlines other options such as retention ponds:
What is the moisture content of Swiss soils?
Soil is a valuable resource and damage to the soil structure is in most cases irreversible and harmful to soil fertility. So soil monitoring networks that record soil moisture are important.
Specifically for eastern Switzerland: www.bodenfeuchte-ostschweiz.ch
Specifically for the south side of the Alps: www.oasi.ti.ch/web/dati/suolo.html.
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Last modification 20.01.2026
