2023

22.03.2023

Plant-based Beverages and Cow’s Milk: a Comparison of Physico-chemical Properties
The number of plant-based beverages on supermarket shelves is constantly increasing. The physicochemical properties of these beverages, such as their colour or foamability, vary according to the plant they are made from, and determine their use as an alternative to milk.

20.03.2023

Risk Indicators for Plant Protection Products: Further Analyses for Calculation
Agroscope has developed risk indicators which show the development of risks associated with the use of plant protection products for important environmental compartments, describe the risk potential of the active substances and take account of legal measures for risk mitigation.

10.03.2023

Biopreservation – the Forgotten Role of Fermentation
Selected microorganisms extend the shelf-life of foods, thereby contributing to a reduction in food waste. In a study of the literature, Agroscope highlighted the important role of protective cultures and fermentation.

02.03.2023

Agroscope Strengthens its Expertise in Agroecology
Agroscope welcomes proven expert in organic farming and agroecology Lucius Tamm on board. Tamm will be responsible inter alia for the strategy process as preparation for the new 2026–2029 Work Programme, as well as for the further development of international collaborations.

02.03.2023

Great potential for environmentally friendly and profitable production
Do farmers who produce in environmentally friendly ways earn less income? As an Agroscope study shows, this needs not be the case, and farmers can actually generate more revenue by protecting the environment.

28.02.2023

Routes to Resilient, Sustainable and Secure Agricultural and Food Systems
Scheduled for 20-21 April, the annual conference of the Swiss Society for Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Sociology (SGA) will deal with the ‘Transformation of agri-food systems – sustainability and digitalisation of food value chains’. Registration is open up to 10 April.

23.02.2023

Temporary grassland: two new alfalfa varieties recommended
In temporary grassland, alfalfa is used mainly in three-year mixtures for dry locations. Following recent variety trials, Agroscope has added the new varieties Nutrix and Andantino to the list of recommended forage plants for 2023–2024.

21.02.2023

What Measures Promote a Sustainable Diet?
It’s not easy to change eating habits. In a study of the literature, Agroscope investigated which policy measures favour a sustainable diet. Market-oriented tools and bans prove effective, but are fairly unpopular.

13.02.2023

From Niche Crop to Mainstream Success
Oats, triticale, hull-less barley, lupin, faba beans and buckwheat are rarely cultivated. The EU project CROPDIVA intends to change that. Agroscope analyses the value chains of four of these crops in order to promote their cultivation and processing.

07.02.2023

Plant Protection Robots in Vegetable Farming: Labour, Costs, Social Aspects and Ecology
A hoeing and spot-spraying device enables huge savings in the use of plant protection products. Although costs are higher than for conventional plant protection devices, motivated farm managers give this innovative technology genuine prospects for the future.

02.02.2023

Swiss Parks – an Economic Success Story for Local Farms?
Thanks to their unique landscapes, the 15 regional nature parks, the majority of which are located in the (pre-)Alps and in the Jura Arc, feature as tourist attractions. But do the parks also provide economic value-added for local agriculture?

27.01.2023

Biodiversity Indicators for Result-based Agri-environmental Schemes: an Overview
Those wishing to promote biodiversity in agriculture by means of result-based schemes need meaningful indicators. An overview of proposed and used indicators highlights developments and challenges.

20.01.2023

How Foods of Animal Origin Can Contribute to a Healthy, Sustainable Diet
Foods of animal origin – friend or foe? It all depends on the needs of consumers and on local production conditions, as shown by a major review in which Agroscope took part.

19.01.2023

Vegetable Production: Striking Reduction in Nitrate Leaching without Crop Residues
In vegetable production it is usual to leave crop residues on the field. Measurements carried out by Agroscope researchers show that removing these residues significantly reduces nitrate leaching.

18.01.2023

1st European Healthy Soils Conference
The 1st European Healthy Soils Conference on soil fertility will take place in Muttenz from 13 to 15 September 2023. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 15 March.

16.01.2023

Swiss Farmyard-Manure Market: Transports on the Rise
To balance their nutrient cycles, Swiss farms export surplus farmyard manure to farms with free uptake capacities or to composting and anaerobic digestion facilities. Between 2015 and 2020 the volumes of organic manure and recycled fertilisers transported rose significantly, with a consequent increase in transport costs.

11.01.2023

Plant-Protection Products in Field Crops: Which Alternatives Have Potential?
Which measures are suitable for significantly reducing pesticide use in field crops? In the PestiRed project, farmers rate the implemented measures as largely positive; with a differentiated result for economic efficiency.

05.01.2023

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.