Climate change today and in the future is changing the conditions for Swiss agriculture. Increasing temperatures and changing precipitation patterns hold opportunities but also increased risks. A qualitative and spatial shift in suitability is expected for major crops. The cultivation of alternative crops is hence a valuable adaption measure. This work aimed to identify alternative crops whose suitability will increase under projected climate changes and provide farmers with an initial indicator for planning. A simple model (ecocrop) was used to identify crops that will be adequately suited for future climate changes. The model was run with projected climate data for RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 for two future periods (2040-2070 and 2070-2100) for station Zurich. Only alternative crops were selected, and their nutritional quality was identified. Suitability maps for the reference period were created. Twenty-five different crops were selected, 20 crops under RCP4.5, and 22 crops under RCP8.5 (the results largely overlapped). The crops were described and discussed regarding their suitability at station Zurich, their spatial suitability and nutritional quality. The findings show that future climate changes will enable alternative crops to thrive in Switzerland. Under RCP8.5, the suitability for several crops decreased in the second future period, indicating that unabated climate change will ultimately have a negative impact, also on the crops discussed here. Nevertheless, growing alternative crops is an adaptation method and even a mitigation strategy, as, for example, emissions from imported crops could be avoided. Another opportunity arises from protein-rich legumes, which can be used as a substitute for meat and thus promote a plant-based diet that has been shown to cause fewer emissions. The lists and maps provided are an initial guide for farmers wishing to grow alternative crops and can help researchers decide which areas to focus on for further research. In future work, suitability maps need to be calculated for future periods to assess spatial shifts in suitability. Systematic field reports should be collected to include non-climatic factors in the evaluation of cropping potential.
