Practical Ways to Assess Sustainability

Agroscope has developed the foundation of a methodology for assessing the sustainability of Swiss farms. From summer 2016, a set of indicators will be tested on around ten farms. Sustainably managed farms form an important basis for healthy, fit-for-the-future food production.

The assessment of a farm’s sustainability is a vital step in its optimisation. Here, equal consideration must be given to the criteria concerning the three dimensions of environment, economy and society. Agroscope has developed appropriate indicators, and published these in May 2016 in the ‘Agroscope Science’ publication series.

These indicators are the foundation for enabling farmers, consumers and associations as well as interested actors and stakeholders from production, processing and trade to develop a comprehensive farm sustainability assessment. Particular attention is devoted by Agroscope to the social dimension. This field still lacks sufficient resilient and practical indicators that are tailor-made for Swiss farms.

Well-being concept for human well-being

Four project teams developed indicators for assessing social sustainability, with a focus on the three areas of human well-being, animal welfare, and landscape aesthetics. Here, it was shown that the Well-being Concept of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) represents a good basis for depicting the various aspects of human well-being. To this end, key questions allowing the relevant topics to be described simply and concisely were developed for each sub-aspect such as e.g. work/life balance, social relationships and subjective well-being.

Owing to the relevance of the topic for agriculture, a project team devoted itself to the calculation of temporal workload. On the basis of the ‘ART Work Budget’ software developed by Agroscope to calculate the expected working time, we derived an indicator by comparing the theoretically derived working-time input and the workforce available on the farm.

Point system for animal welfare

A further project team noted that using a simple indicator to assess animal welfare cannot cover all of the requirements. The researchers therefore propose a point system that manages without observations or measurements on the animal itself. In this system, points are awarded to measures with an anticipated positive impact on one of the twelve animal welfare aspects taken into account in the existing Welfare®-Quality Protocol measuring instrument, e.g. freedom of movement or the absence of pain. In order for points to be awarded, the anticipated animal welfare must go beyond the minimum stipulated in the Swiss Animal Protection Law. Follow-up projects will now aim to determine whether a correlation does in fact exist between the number of points awarded and the level of animal welfare.

Indicators for the economy and environment

Agroscope has also developed indicators for the economic and environmental dimensions; detailed information on these can be found in the relevant Agroscope publication of May 2016. The economic sustainability of a farm can be illustrated by two key figures in each of the following areas: profitability (earned income per family labour unit and total return on capital); liquidity (cashflow-turnover rate and dynamic gearing ratio), and stability (investment intensity and investment coverage). The environmental dimension of sustainability encompasses the components of resource efficiency, effects on climate, nutrients, and ecotoxicity, as well as biodiversity and soil quality.

Practicability, utility, acceptance

Practical testing of the indicator set is carried out in close cooperation with the involved farmers. The test determines the practicability, utility and acceptance of a sustainability assessment at farm level. In addition to the refinement of the indicator set, a scientific analysis of the results is planned. The project will be concluded with an in-depth report at the end of 2019. The results obtained are meant to contribute to the implementation of a practical solution for assessing sustainability on a large number of farms. The project is financially supported by the Migros Cooperative Association (MGB). IP-Suisse is actively involved in data acquisition.

Further information:

Numéro du projet: 22.16.19.08.01

Impact des nouveaux organismes apparus dans l'agriculture sur la biodiversité

Neue Organismen, z.B. Biokontroll-Organismen und Pflanzen die mit neuen Züchtungstechnologien entwickelt wurden, können mit einheimischen Arten und Nahrungsnetzen im Feld und darüber hinaus interagieren. Sie können Chancen bieten für eine nachhaltigere Landwirtschaft, z.B. wenn durch ihren Einsatz Pestizide eingespart werden. Sie können aber auch negative Auswirkungen haben, z.B. wenn einheimische Arten verdrängt werden. Wir untersuchen dieses Problemfeld konzeptionell und experimentell in Labor und Freiland und stellen unsere Expertise zur Risikoabschätzung national und international für Politik und Vollzug zur Verfügung.

ID Projet: 3825 Envoyer par e-mail

Responsable du projet

Collatz Jana

Suppléance

Meissle Michael Peter

Nom, Prénom	Site
Collatz Jana	Reckenholz
Gallego Nogales Irene	Reckenholz
Meissle Michael Peter	Reckenholz
Romeis Jörg	Reckenholz

Kartakis S., Horrocks K., Cingiz K., Kriticos D. J., Wesseler J.
Migration extent and potential economic impact of the fall armyworm in Europe.
Scientific Reports, 15, 2025, Article 17405.

Zannou A. J., Arnó J., Romeis J., Collatz J.
Compatibility of biocontrol agents with host plant resistance for management of the South American tomato pinworm Phthorimaea absoluta.
Biological Control, 205, 2025, Article 105772.

Wyckhuys K. A. G., Abram P. K., Barrios E., Cancino J., Collatz J., Fancelli M., Klein A.-M., Lindell C. A., Osterman J., Pinto M., Tang F. H. M., Tena A., Elkahky M.
Orchard systems offer low-hanging fruit for low-carbon, biodiversity-friendly farming.
BioScience, In Press, 2025.

Gallego Nogales I., Medic N., Pedersen J. S., Ramasamy P. K., Robbens J., Vereecke E., Romeis J.
The microalgal sector in Europe: Towards a sustainable bioeconomy.
New Biotechnology, 86, 2025.

Gallego Nogales I.
Biocompounds of commercial interest from freshwater and marine phytoplankton.
Dans: The Role of Plankton in Freshwater and Marine Ecology. Ed. IntechOpen. 2025, 1-23.

Zannou A. J., Romeis J., Collatz J.
Response of the tomato leaf miner Phthorimaea absoluta to wild and domesticated tomato genotypes.
Pest Management Science, 81, (3), 2025, 1345-1359.

Rondoni G., Collatz J., Jonsson M., Rubbmark O.R., Riddick E.W., Schmidt J.M., Brodeur J.
Recent advances in characterizing trophic connections in biological control.
Biological Control, 199, 2024, Article 105656.

Horrocks K., Seehausen M.L., Down R.E., Audsley N., Maggini R., Collatz J.
Assessing the feasibility of pre-emptive biological control against the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, an imminent biosecurity threat to Europe.
Biological Control, 198, 2024, 1-15.

Zannou A. J., Romeis J., Collatz J.
Understanding the interplay of tomato genotypes, Tuta absoluta and natural enemies.
Dans: Symposium on Insect Plant Relationships 2024. 4. August, Bielefeld. 2024.

Duarte Martínez L., Bueno V. H. P., Baños Diaz H. L., Collatz J., de los Ángeles Martinez Rivero M., Maluf R. W., Oliveira A., Rivas Diéguez A., Sánchez Castro A., Rodríguez Morell H.
Bases científicas y metodológicas para la detección temprana y respuesta rápida a Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) en Cuba.
Anales de la Academia de Ciencias de Cuba, 14, (2), 2024, 1-12.

Meissle M., Grabenweger G., Romeis J.
No interaction of fluctuating or constant temperature and virulence of entomopathogenic fungi in two noctuid species.
Journal of Pest Science, 97, (2), 2024, 809-823.

Meissle M.
Prey-mediated effects of Mpp51Aa2-producing cotton on longevity and reproduction of Orius majusculus.
Transgenic Research, 33, (3), 2024, 75-88.

Kümin M., Eyer K., Hall J., Koch A., Pascolo S., Romeis J.
RNA-Technologien: Wirkmechanismen, Anwendungen und Verabreichungsformen.
Swiss Academies Reports, 19, (1), 2024, 1-56.
autres langues: anglais

Zina V., Conde S., Branco M., Franco J.C.
Do dominant native ants outcompete the invasive Argentine Ant in Mediterranean citrus ecosystems ?: A laboratory test.
Insects, 15, 2024, 1-15.

Gilliéron F., Romeis J., Collatz J.
Cold tolerance of the mealybug parasitoid Anagyrus vladimiri.
BioControl, 69, 2024, 129-143.

Horrocks K., Zhang J., Haye T., Seehausen L., Maggini R., Xian X., Chen J., Nugnes F., Collatz J., Gruber A., Gariepy T.
Biology, impact, management and potential distribution of Aromia bungii, a major threat to fruit crops around the world.
Journal of Pest Science, 97, 2024, 1725-1747.

Gonthier J., Arno J., Romeis J., Collatz J.
Insight into the host-specificity of a native and a newly introduced parasitoid of Tuta absoluta and prospect for biological control.
Biological Control, 191, 2024, 1-10.

Meissle M., Chen Y., Romeis J.
Daphnia magna as an indicator for aquatic species in the non-target risk assessment of genetically modified maize.
Dans: SETAC Europe 34th Annual Meeting. 6. May, Sevilla (ES). 2024.

Purnhagen K., Ambrogio Y., Bartsch D., Eriksson D., Jorasch P., Kahrmann J., Kardung M., Molitorisova A., Monaco A., Nanda A.K., Romeis J., Rostoks N., Unkel K., Schneider X.T.
Options for regulating new genomic techniques for plants in the European Union.
Nature Plants, 9, 2023, 1958-1961.

Chen Y., Meissle M., Xue J., Zhang N., Ma S., Guo A., Liu B., Peng Y., Song X., Yang Y., Li Y.
Expression of Cry1Ab/2Aj protein in genetically engineered maize plants and its transfer in the arthropod food web.
Plants, 12, (23), 2023, 1-13.

Avila G. A., Seehausen L. M., Lesieur V., Chhagan A., Caron V., Down R. E., Audsley N., Collatz J., Bukovinszki T., Sabbatini Peverini G., Tanner R., Maggini R., Milonas P., McGee C. F., Horrocks K. et autres
Guidelines and framework to assess the feasibility of starting pre-emptive risk assessment of classical biological control agents.
Biological Control, 187, 2023, 1-14.

Koller J. S., Sutter L., Gonthier J., Collatz J., Norgrove L.
Entomopathogens and Parasitoids allied in biocontrol: A systematic review.
Pathogens, 12, (7), 2023, 1-17.

Gonthier J., Koller J. S., Arnò J., Collatz J., Sutter L.
Models for the practitioner: Predicting the efficient biocontrol of Tuta absoluta under different management scenarios.
Crop Protection, 172, 2023, 1-8.

Boss A., Romeis J., Meissle M.
Prey-mediated effects of mCry51Aa2-producing cotton on the predatory nontarget bug Orius majusculus (Reuter).
Insects, 30, (4), 2023, 1191-1206.

Wolf S., Collatz J., Enkerli J., Widmer F., Romeis J.
Assessing potential hybridization between a hypothetical gene drive-modified Drosophila suzukii and nontarget Drosophila species.
Risk Analysis, 43, (10), 2023, 1921-1932.

Martinez L. D., Romeis J., Collatz J.
Effect of simulated heat waves on the behavior of two mirid predators.
Journal of Applied Entomology, 147, (7), 2023, 486-498.

Meissle M., Waldburger M., Jeanneret P., Broggini G., Patocchi A., Romeis J.
Insect pollinator monitoring in and around a netted plot of apple trees: Biosafety implications for genetically engineered fruit trees.
Agronomy, 13, (84), 2023.

Romeis J.
Assessing the hybridization potential between a hypothetical gene drive-modified insect strain and related non-target species.
Dans: 16th ISBR Symposium. 02 May, St Louis, MO, USA. 2023.

Meissle M., Romeis J., Naranjo S.E.
Bt maize and non-target animals: A systematic review.
Dans: IOBC-WPRS Proceedings of the ninth meeting. 28-30 September, Ed. IOBC-WPRS, Berlin. 2023, 69-75.

Meissle M., Middelhoff U., Bartsch D.
Working group modern Biotechnology in integrated plant production: Proceedings of the ninth meeting at Berlin, Germany, 28-30 September, 2022.
IOBC-WPRS, Berlin. 2023, 132 pp.

Gonthier J., Arnó J., Romeis J., Collatz J.
Few indirect effects of baculovirus on parasitoids demonstrate high compatibility of biocontrol methods against Tuta absoluta.
Pest Management Science, 79, (4), 2023, 1431-1441.

Connolly J. B., Romeis J., Devos Y., Glandorf D. C. M., Turner G., Coulibaly M. B.
Gene drive in species complexes: Defining target organisms.
Trends in Biotechnology, 41, (2), 2023, 154-164.

Gonthier J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, G., Romeis J., Collatz J.
Odor learning improves efficacy of egg parasitoids as biocontrol agents against Tuta absoluta.
Journal of Pest Science, 96, 2023, 105-117.

Tonui W. K., Ahuja V., Beech C. J., Connolly J. B., Dass B., Glandorf D. C. M., James S., Muchiri J. N., Mugoya C. F., Okoree E. A., Quemada H., Romeis J.
Points to consider in seeking biosafety approval for research, testing, and environmental release of experimental genetically modified biocontrol products during research and development.
Transgenic Research, 31, 2022, 607-623.

Meissle M.
How to combine innovation and precaution towards more sustainable agriculture: Considerations for a new way forward.
Dans: IOBC-WPRS Proceedings of the ninth meeting. 28-30 September, Ed. IOBC-WPRS, Berlin. 2022, 61-68.

Meissle M., Naranjo S. E., Romeis J.
Database of non-target invertebrates recorded in field experiments of genetically engineered Bt maize and corresponding non-Bt maize.
BMC Research Notes, 15, 2022, Article 199.

Connolly J. B., Mumford J. D., Glandorf D. C. M., Hartley S., Lewis O. T., Evans S. W., Turner G., Beech C., Sykes N., Coulibaly M. B., Romeis J., Teem J. L., Tonui W., Lovett B., Mankad A. et autres
Recommendations for environmental risk assessment of gene drive applications for malaria vector control.
Malaria Journal, 21, 2022, 1-13.

Wang Y., Liu Q., Song X., Xiaowei Y., Han L., Romeis J., Li Y.
Unintended changes in transgenic maize cause no nontarget effects.
Plants, People, Planet, 4, (4), 2022, 392-402.

Meissle M., Naranjo S. E., Romeis J.
Does the growing of Bt maize change abundance or ecological function of non-target animals compared to the growing of non-GM maize? A systematic review.
Environmental Evidence, 11, 2022, 1-36.

Häner N., Amiresmaeili N., Stähli N., Romeis J., Collatz J.
Overwintering of two pupal parasitoids of Drosophila under natural conditions.
Journal of Thermal Biology, 106, 2022, 1-12.

Kapranas, A., Collatz J., Michaelakis, A., Milonas, P.
Review of the role of sterile insect technique within biologically-based pest control: An appraisal of existing regulatory frameworks.
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 170, (5), 2022, 385-393.

Chen Y., Romeis J., Meissle M.
No adverse effects of stacked Bacillus thuringiensis maize on the midge Chironomus riparius.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 41, (4), 2022, 1078-1088.

Zhang Y., Tian X., Wang H., Casteňé C., Arnó J., Collatz J., Romeis J., Wu S., Xian X., Liu W., Wan F., Zhang G.
Host selection behavior of the host-feeding parasitoid Necremnus tutae on Tuta absoluta.
Entomologia Generalis, online, (29 October), 2022, 1-12.

Collatz J., Siffert A., Cahenzli F., Kehrli P.
Les prédateurs de la Drosophile du cerisier.
Vignes et Vergers, 1, 2022, 8-11.