Press Releases 2022
Agroscope
Global Warming Causes Changes in Swiss Insect Fauna
How has the distribution of insects in Switzerland changed over the past 40 years? The range of many species has expanded, while that of a similar number has contracted. In particular, cold-adapted species have lost ground. These are the findings published in the journal “Nature Communications”.
Researching Together for a Healthy Diet
Agroscope and Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW are stepping up their cooperation in food research and have signed a memorandum of understanding. The aim is to conduct joint and complementary research on good nutrition. Both partners will bring different strengths to this cooperation.
Measuring Protein Digestibility in the Laboratory while Reducing Animal Testing
How much of the proteins present in foods can the human body absorb and how high is the quality of these proteins? These are the key questions in discussions about a healthy and sustainable diet. Agroscope has developed a method that can reliably measure the protein digestibility of different foods in the laboratory. This opens up promising prospects in nutritional research and reduces the need for complex human and animal trials.
Strawberries ‘Remember’ Heat and Other Stress
No memory without a brain? That’s not quite true, as shown by an Agroscope study of woodland strawberry: heat and other stress situations influence the DNA of the plants. The resulting changes can help forearm strawberries against subsequent stress situations – they ‘remember’.
Tracking Down the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus
The tomato brown rugose fruit virus poses a new threat to Swiss agriculture – especially to tomatoes and peppers. Agroscope is playing a key role in controlling this quarantine organism in Switzerland. A newly created research group diagnoses submitted plant samples in the quarantine laboratory via a PCR test. A positive test result requires tough measures to prevent spread and contain damage: recently, an entire delivery of 6000 seedlings had to be destroyed at Zurich airport.
Hardy Grazing Livestock: Protectors of the Mountain Landscape
Biodiverse mountain pastures are being overgrown by green alder shrubs. A study conducted by Agroscope and ETHZ shows that hardy sheep and goats can stop shrub encroachment. In particular, the traditional Engadine sheep has a taste for green alder. By debarking the shrub it damages it, thus preventing its spread and protecting valuable alpine pastures.
Agroscope Strengthens System Research and Researches More with Practice
Agroscope’s new Work Programme for 2022 to 2025 takes up the many and varied challenges of the agriculture and food sector. To develop solutions for a productive and sustainable farming sector, Agroscope is increasingly guided by the principles of agroecology, whose aim is to structure agriculture in a more ecologically, economically and socially sustainable manner. Agroscope is also strengthening system research, and increasingly co-creating research with farmers.