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2023

28.11.2023

The Challenge of Nutrient Losses – Agroscope Supports Agricultural Practitioners
Over the next few years, nitrogen and phosphorus losses from agriculture must be substantially reduced. With a new series of factsheets, Agroscope is helping farmers improve nutrient efficiency and thereby reduce nutrient losses to the maximum extent possible.

22.11.2023

Recycling Wood Residues for Sustainable Agricultural Systems
This project aims to store soil organic matter, restore the fertility of agricultural soils and control weeds by recycling wood residues. The residues are incorporated or spread on the surface in a field trial. The effects of wood residues on soils, oilseed rape, wheat crops as well as on weeds are studied

26.10.2023

SRF’s ‘Einstein’ Programme on Apple Breeding
On Thursday evening, 26 October 2023, Swiss broadcaster SRF’s ‘Einstein’ programme was all about how new apple varieties arise and what role new breeding methods could play here. The programme will highlight the close cooperation in this field between Agroscope and ETH Zurich.

09.10.2023

Measuring Soil Fertility Directly in the Field
Soil samples can be measured directly in the field by means of spectroscopy. Agroscope researchers have tested mobile devices and shown how to make the best use of them.

18.09.2023

Ground-Nesting Bees as Soil Ecosystem «Engineers»
Scientists from Agroscope and two partner universities used X-ray imaging to provide new insights into the underground life of ground-nesting bees. The results highlight the locally important role of ground-nesting bees as soil ecosystem “engineers” improving soil health.

04.09.2023

First Experimental Release of Parasitic Asian Wasp to Control Spotted-Wing Drosophila
The invasive spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) is a devastating pest in berry, stone fruit and grape crops. A natural antagonist from the fruit fly’s area of origin in East Asia is now due to be released in Switzerland for the first time by Agroscope and CABI.

28.08.2023

Agroscope and ecoinvent Renew Partnership
Agroscope and ecoinvent are committed to advancing sustainable practices in the agriculture and food sectors through their collaboration.

31.07.2023

Bacteria welcome!
Our gut microbiota is important for our health. The more diverse the microbial composition, the better. The Polyfermenthealth project aims to find new bacteria for yogurt production in order to bring more bacterial and nutrient diversity back into the diet.

17.07.2023

Measuring Heat Stress in Dairy Cows
When does heat stress become critical for dairy cows? An index makes this measurable. Agroscope has carried out recent calculations for four of its own sites.

05.07.2023

Japanese Beetle or Other Alien Species: Beware of Stowaways
As the holiday season kicks off, the Federal Office for Agriculture calls on holidaymakers to refrain from accidentally importing insect stowaways, since exotic pests such as the Japanese beetle – so called ‘non-indigenous species’ – can cause major damage.

15.06.2023

Improved Crop Variety Mixtures Made Possible by Scientific Breakthrough
In an article recently published in Nature Communications, Agroscope and partners resolved a positive diversity effect in genotype mixtures to a single gene. This breakthrough will facilitate the design of improved crop variety mixtures.

07.06.2023

Using Modern Technology to Optimise Plant-Protection Application
The aim of the PFLOPF project is to reduce plant-protection use by at least 25%. This is to be achieved with Precision Farming technologies, including online forecasting tools, GPS steering systems, and sensor-controlled plant-protection and hoeing machines.

02.05.2023

What Makes Swiss Cheese Unique?
British YouTuber Tom Scott looks behind the scenes of cheese research at Agroscope.

27.04.2023

Natural Cockchafer Control: New Machine for Steep Sites
On steep sites it is difficult to inject the soil with a useful fungus that kills off harmful cockchafer larvae. A motor mower equipped with spiked-tooth rollers and steered by remote control makes it possible to treat the meadows that are at risk.

19.04.2023

Growing Sorghum in Switzerland – Interdisciplinary Research in the Year of Millets
The United Nations has declared 2023 the ‘International Year of Millets’. Millets have advantages over other cereal species and forage plants: they are undemanding, drought-resistant, rich in minerals and gluten-free. For several years now, Agroscope has been researching the millet species sorghum, among others.

06.01.2023

Brandies from Old Apple Varieties
The potential of old apple varieties often remains untapped. Agroscope and Fructus are testing which old apple varieties might stage a comeback as the raw material for distilling brandy.

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