New Plant Protection Product Risk Indicators for Switzerland
Agroscope has developed risk indicators for plant protection products. These indicators highlight risk trends over time for important environmental compartments. Based on sales volumes of active substances, they take account of specific risk reduction measures.
Challenges for Sustainable Soil Management – A Stocktake
The preservation of soil fertility and multiple soil functions faces various challenges both in Switzerland and throughout Europe. A survey carried out in Switzerland among people from practice, government agencies and research highlights problems and possible solutions.
Characterisation of a Plant-Based Cheese Alternative Based on Swiss Raw Materials
As part of the trend towards vegetarian and vegan products, Agroscope looked into the production of plant-based alternatives to soft cheese based on Swiss raw materials.
New Plant Protection Product Risk Indicators for Switzerland
Agroscope has developed risk indicators for plant protection products. These indicators highlight risk trends over time for important environmental compartments. Based on sales volumes of active substances, they take account of specific risk reduction measures.
Challenges for Sustainable Soil Management – A Stocktake
The preservation of soil fertility and multiple soil functions faces various challenges both in Switzerland and throughout Europe. A survey carried out in Switzerland among people from practice, government agencies and research highlights problems and possible solutions.
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Characterisation of a Plant-Based Cheese Alternative Based on Swiss Raw Materials
As part of the trend towards vegetarian and vegan products, Agroscope looked into the production of plant-based alternatives to soft cheese based on Swiss raw materials.
Yellow Nutsedge: What Control Strategies Work in Practice?
The invasive weed yellow nutsedge creates considerable problems for Swiss producers in arable and vegetable crops. In a four-year project, stakeholders from research and practice evaluated various control strategies on-farm.
Pesticides in Beeswax: How Toxic Are They to Honey Bee Larvae?
Pesticides accumulate in beeswax and pose a risk to the development of bee larvae. In an in vitro study, Agroscope evaluated the toxicity of pesticides in beeswax
Better Milk Price and Low Basic Ration Costs Make Grass-Fed Milk Cost-Efficient
Grass-fed milk production meets a customer need, and is linked to specific feed and animal-welfare requirements. An Agroscope study sought to determine the circumstances in which grass-fed milk production is worthwhile.
Heat Stress in Fattening Pigs: Which Indicators Can Reveal Reduced Welfare?
Fattening pigs suffer when it is hot. Timely provision of cooling measures increases both animal welfare and success in pig fattening. Researchers at Agroscope examined which indicators reliably indicate heat stress in fattening pigs.
How Much More Water Will Swiss Crops Need in Future?
Model calculations show how climate change will affect the water requirement for different crops grown on the Swiss Central Plateau. This will allow us to proactively plan for crop irrigation and adaptation to the changing climate.
Biocontrol of Wireworms in Cover Crops
Wireworms cause significant crop losses in potatoes. This study investigated the efficacy of a fungus in decimating wireworm populations in the winter cover crop. The strategy was partially successful, but must be further optimised for use in practice.
Soil Carbon Sequestration – Offsetting Greenhouse Gases
Together with project partners, Agroscope investigated soil carbon sequestration potentials for 24 European countries. Carbon sequestration could offset 0.1% to 27% of greenhouse-gas emissions from agriculture per annum.
Agroscope, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, BIOS Science Austria, Prešov University, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, CREA – Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, ATK – Centre for Agricultural Research, Teagasc, Environment, Soils and Land-Use Research, Thünen-Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture
Optimising Protein Feeding with the Help of Milk Urea Content
Excess nitrogen is excreted in the urine and leads to higher ammonia emissions. Nitrogen in the urine of dairy cows can be estimated based on the urea content of their milk. This information can be used to optimise protein feeding.
Adaptation of the Method for Detecting Bacterial Diseases of Potato
Bacterial diseases can have a huge impact on potato production yields.
The method for detecting these diseases used in Switzerland to date does not allow the growing demand for tests to be met. Agroscope is implementing new solutions.
Variety Testing in Forage Production: Two Interesting New Hybrid Ryegrass Cultivars
Hybrid ryegrass is a high-yielding, versatile forage grass used in many clover-grass mixtures. Out of a total of 23 tested varieties, two new varieties performed particularly impressively in terms of yield and resistance to bacterial wilt.
What Quantity of Heavy Metals Ends Up in Agricultural Soils?
Calculations carried out by the Swiss Soil Monitoring Network (NABO) over more than 30 years reveal that fertiliser applications and plant-protection products can lead to excess heavy metals in agricultural soils.
Should Antibiotic Use Be Reduced through Incentives?
Antibiotic use could be curtailed through incentives that improve animal health. Most farmers are open to direct payments in support of this.
More Cherries and Bigger Apples from Optimal Pollination
Certain crops in Switzerland can benefit from more-species-and-individual-rich wild-bee communities. An Agroscope report shows how this could be achieved.