13 - Field crops (food/feed/forage)

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Programme director:

Objective

The main aim is to enable resource-efficient, site-adapted plant production which retains the competitiveness of farms in the Swiss field crop and forage production sector by ensuring that they continue to produce competitive, high-quality products in the future. At the same time, the negative environmental impacts of PPPs, nutrient surpluses and greenhouse gas emissions should be minimised, biodiversity should be promoted, and the natural resources water and soil should be protected and preserved for future generations. Varieties, cropping systems and crop protection strategies that are directly applicable to practice are expected to be developed.

• Specific objectives

  • Breed robust varieties adapted to local conditions for the cultivation of wheat, soya and forage crops with the focus on optimising yield and quality as well as increasing water efficiency and resistance to harmful organisms
  • Ensure reliable and efficient certification of seed and plant material for growing field and forage crops (enforcement task)
  • Conduct and further develop variety research and testing under diverse pedoclimatic conditions to provide variety recommendations for cereal, maize, potatoes, oilseeds, protein plants and forage crops, taking account of abiotic stress factors and harmful organisms as well as regional market and growing conditions. Increase efficiency by developing and using new research methods.
  • Develop measures to retain and attain the required product quality characteristics (e.g. protein content, oil content, physiological damage such as discolouration of vascular bundles) in the main crops under different environmental and growing conditions and changing pest pressure.
  • Develop resource-efficient recipes for forage crop mixes (grasses, legumes, herbs) and/or alternative catch crops adapted to new growing conditions such as drought stress or heavy rainfall, with positive effects on the overall system (reduced nitrogen losses and methane emissions, reduced soil erosion, animal health); reduce food-feed competition wherever possible.
  • Use smart, site-adapted cultivation methods, mixed crops and variety mixtures with the aim of reducing the use of PPPs (incl. mechanical alternatives), reducing nutrient losses and increasing resource efficiency (water) and climate resilience.
  • Help develop and adapt agricultural forecasting systems for harmful organisms (blight, fusaria (existing model), alternaria (new model)) and abiotic stress factors (e.g. drought, heavy rainfall)
  • Develop efficient and integrated plant protection strategies for the main crops along the plant protection pyramid. The main focus lies on prioritised, annually reviewed practice-related issues affecting the field crop sector.
  • Optimise fertiliser standards and strategies to take account of yield and quality potential (especially for maize, as well as for potatoes, protein and oil crops and cereals; including for specific varieties where appropriate); decision-making tools for site-adapted fertiliser applications based on sensors and models (corrected nitrogen standards; N_min); combining organic and mineral fertilisers with legumes (if necessary taking into account rhizobia performance); closing of material cycles
  • Promote biodiversity and associated functions such as pest control and pollination on arable fields. Step up site-adapted establishment of Ecological Focus Areas in conjunction with farmers and promote the implementation of EFA functions to support ecosystem services.

Expected outcomes

Resource-efficient plant production adapted to local conditions is further developed and put into practice. Field crops and leys are more robust and more tolerant of drought and heavy rainfall. The profitability and quality of harvested products is stable, despite reduction in nutrient and pesticide inputs. At the same time, project outcomes enable better protection of natural resources (soil stability, health and fertility, water and groundwater, biodiversity). As a result, farmers, through their decisions, can protect natural resources and at the same time ensure profitability.

Projects

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