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.
Wines made from fungus-resistant grape varieties are meeting with a comparable success to those from traditional grape varieties. A Swiss study reveals several consumer profiles, highlighting the importance of custom-tailored marketing strategies.
Greenhouse gas emissions from drained carbon-rich soils are being underestimated in GHG accounting. To resolve this, their distribution and emissions need to be better assessed. Accordingly, improvements for the GHG reporting system are suggested.
A 4,000 m² agrivoltaic array was unveiled in Conthey on 18 September 2025, marking a groundbreaking development for Switzerland: photovoltaic modules installed above orchard crops. Agronomic monitoring will be done by Agroscope.
Together with the cheese- and whey-processing sector and the foodward Foundation, Agroscope investigated how whey can be used in food and higher-quality feed. Vegetarian, kosher- and halal-compliant whey expands potential applications in the food sector.
The Climate Summit in Landquart aims to show how climate-friendly production and conscious consumption go hand-in-hand. Agroscope researchers supported the pilot project scientifically and are among the speakers. Registration is until 27/11/25.
The Liebefeld Dairy Conference 2025 will feature new findings from Agroscope and HAFL research into milk production and processing as well reporting on the IDF World Dairy Summit 2025 in Santiago, Chile.
