Faced with climate change that undermines the stability of forage production, the introduction of more-drought-tolerant catch crops represents an adaptive strategy with a high likelihood of success in safeguarding livestock feed supplies.
Swiss citizens think that government, farmers, retailers and consumers are jointly responsible for transitioning towards more sustainable food systems. These are the findings of two surveys conducted by Agroscope and ETH Zürich.
On behalf of swisspatat, Agroscope tested the suitability of different potato varieties for processing into crisps and chips. Key factors here were sugar levels, deep-frying behaviour and storage conditions.
Cocksfoot is a productive, robust and drought-tolerant forage grass often used in Swiss grass leys. The most recent variety testing by Agroscope has led to the recommendation of several new top-performing cultivars.
When mountain pasture use is sub-optimal, scrub runs rampant and biodiversity is lost. In this SRF Einstein broadcast of 23/10, Agroscope researcher Caren Pauler talks about her search for cattle breeds that maintain alpine pastures.
A trial conducted at Changins compared the impact of different tillage practices on wheat yields and soil fertility. It showed that minimum tillage provides agronomic and environmental advantages.
Agroscope and its Italian counterpart CREA (Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria) have described the new bacterial species Clostridium caseinilyticum sp. nov., isolated from cheese with the ‘putrificus’ quality defect and from silage. The study sheds light on potential causes and can contribute to the development of preventive measures.
Around 90 kg of food is wasted in Swiss households per person and year. Part of the waste could be avoided, which would be a win for both the pocketbook and the environment. Agroscope has produced a guide for reducing food waste.
The 48th Agricultural Economics Conference will take place on 18 November at the Agroscope site in Tänikon, Ettenhausen, Switzerland. The conference will focus on the profitability of selected production methods and the impact of agricultural policy. Registrations are possible until 13 November.
The variable-rate application of nitrogen fertiliser has been successfully tested on winter wheat over a four-year period. The results of the ‘Smart-N’ project will be presented to practitioners and to the agricultural council on 4 December at Tänikon.
Private initiatives such as carbon credit trading can support public policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Agroscope and ETH Zürich examined factors which influence the effectiveness of such initiatives.
The occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is widely documented in soils, water bodies, drinking water and foods. An analysis by Agroscope ranks the contribution made by plant-protection products and other sources to groundwater contamination with PFAS.
According to an international study in which Agroscope took part, hoverflies need only 6% semi-natural habitat to safeguard their populations, whilst wild bees, bumblebees and butterflies need 15%, 18% and 42%, respectively.
