The start of the growing season raises the issue of optimal irrigation in fruit production. Thanks to digital measurements, trees on pilot farms are only being irrigated when necessary, thus saving water. An Agroscope video shows how this works.
Agroscope will host as partner of the EU project CATALYSE on June 8–9, 2026, the World Food Safety Day event. Register here and find the call of the keynote speaker Awilo Ochieng Pernet.
Goats may be appealing, but very few goat farmers can make money from them. Dairy goats become economically viable only when annual milk production reaches at least 100 tonnes, which equates to around 120 to 180 dairy goats, depending on yield.
The Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics FOBL has announced the winner of the open architectural competition: it is the ‘ZÜGELTAG’ project submitted by the architects Sanchez Morgillo of Zurich.
Genome analysis shows that Japanese beetle populations in Switzerland have different origins. This indicates several entry and dispersal routes – knowledge that can help develop targeted prevention and containment measures.
Wines produced from resistant grape varieties are in the ascendant in Swizerland. Consumers are showing that they are open to them. The market penetration of these wines, especially in the catering sector, could be improved through better communication.
Food waste in primary production is rarely recorded – yet this data is key to devising effective reduction strategies throughout the entire value-added chain. This analysis evaluates existing measurement methods with the focus on vegetables.
The ‘Livestock Network 2026’ Conference will present topical research findings on sustainable animal nutrition at the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL on 5 May 2026. Register now up until 27 April 2026.
Most wild bees nest in the ground and are important crop pollinators. Agroscope has shown that it is possible to detect their nests using camera drones – marking a major step forward in the effective monitoring of wild bee populations.
Interest in drought-adapted alternative forage plants is growing. What is their potential as catch crops? A study by Agroscope highlights the advantages and limitations of a selection of these crops.
Potatoes require very high fungicide inputs. New strains of late blight are hampering control measures. A monitoring aims to comprehensively record the population dynamics of the pathogen in Switzerland and provide recommendations for potato production.
Designation of regional nature parks in Switzerland significantly boosts the adoption of direct payment schemes aimed at promoting biodiversity conservation (agri-environment schemes, AES), particularly in regions with relatively more intensive farming and low prior uptake of such schemes.
Stable yields in plant production are crucial for farm profitability and food security. Model simulations show that the yield stability of many summer crops could decline substantially due to climate change, while winter crops are significantly less affected.
A new Agroscope factsheet offers tips on how to support ground-nesting wild bees on one’s own farm with relatively little effort. This will help boost the populations of the primary insect pollinators of agricultural crops.
A recent study shows that the risk of exposure during activities involving seeds treated with plant protection products is not always properly understood. Information provided to agricultural professionals should be improved.
