Risk of Exposure to Dressed Seed is often Underestimated
Duckweed: a Future Feed Ingredient for Closing Nitrogen Cycles?
Targeted Grazing by Highland Cattle: Less Green Alder, More Plant Biodiversity
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Agroscope, Unisanté, Canton de Vaud, Proconseil
Risk of Exposure to Dressed Seed is often Underestimated
A recent study shows that the risk of exposure during activities involving seeds treated with plant protection products is not always properly understood. Information provided to agricultural professionals should be improved.
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FiBL, University of Hohenheim, University of Basel
Duckweed: a Future Feed Ingredient for Closing Nitrogen Cycles?
Duckweed can efficiently produce protein-rich biomass on nutrient-rich waters, such as wastewater or liquid farmyard manure, while simultaneously binding nitrogen and phosphorus. This presents potential for modern circular economy systems.
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Agroscope, University of Turin
Targeted Grazing by Highland Cattle: Less Green Alder, More Plant Biodiversity
A recent Agroscope study highlights the potential of Highland cattle to control the spread of green alder and restore plant diversity on mountain pastures.
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Strategies for Reducing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Losses
Imports from abroad were incorporated into Switzerland’s farm-gate-budget-based agricultural nutrient budget calculation to expand it into a food-system budget. This allows assessment of self-sufficiency, nutrient use and circularity to be assessed in addition to nutrient surpluses.
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Agroscope, TU Graz, University of Nevada, Reno
Avoiding Subsoil Compaction under No-Till
With the passage of time, crop yield losses can occur on no-till farmland. Researchers from Agroscope and the Universities of Graz and Nevada demonstrated how subsoil compaction can lead to yield losses.
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Agroscope, Delley seeds and plants Ltd, IP-SUISSE, Fresh Food & Beverage Group AG
Cultivar Mixtures Stabilise Wheat Baking Quality
An Agroscope study shows that breeding cultivar mixtures is an effective strategy for mitigating the effects of changing abiotic conditions and maintaining stable wheat quality.
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Consensus and Dissension with Respect to Agricultural Policy Goals
A study conducted by Agroscope and ETH Zurich surveyed the opinions of both farmers and the rest of the population with respect to agricultural policy goals, revealing both shared and divergent views.
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FiBL, ZHAW, Office for Landscape and Nature Canton of Zurich
Attitudes towards Results-based Biodiversity Promotion in Switzerland
Results-based biodiversity promotion is an approach that is being discussed in the context of agricultural policy as an alternative to the current system that is based on implementable measures. The survey shows that there is considerable interest among farmers.
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White Clover and Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass: Four New Recommendations
White clover and smooth-stalked meadow grass make a significant contribution to persistence and grazeability in high-yielding fodder-production mixtures. Based on the 2022 to 2024 variety trials, Agroscope can now recommend two new varieties for each of these species.
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Grazing Improves Immune Parameters and Complete Blood Count in Calves
Grazing represents a sustainable option for rearing dairy male calves. Specifically, grazing strengthens immune function, while high-elevation pastures improve haemoglobin levels and red blood cell counts.
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Higher Swiss Self-Sufficiency with Lower Environmental Impact
If we systematically reduce inefficiencies in the food system—such as the heavy use of cropland-based feed, concentrate feed for cattle, and avoidable food waste—we can achieve much higher self-sufficiency while lowering environmental impacts.
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Agroscope, Agridea, HES-SO Changins, Kanton Wallis, Amt für Rebbau und Wein, Vitival, Laboratoires Excell
Using Vegetable Fibre to Reduce Plant-Protection Product Residues in the Musts
The use of vegetable fibre can reduce plant-protection product residues by up to 80% in white musts, with a more limited effect in red musts.. The method can be applied in cellar, as a complement to the responsible use of products in the vineyard.
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Agroscope, Auvernier Office of Viticulture and Agroecology, Morges Agriculture and Viticulture Service (SAVI), Scitec Research SA, University of Lausanne
VITISWISS Platform Assessment 2019-2021: Very Low Residues in Swiss Wines
The 451 wines analysed on the VITISWISS national platform for monitoring plant-protection product residues show that Swiss wines possess a high level of quality, with only two cases of non-compliance.
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Agroscope, Direction générale de l’agriculture, de la viticulture et des affaires vétérinaires (DGAV)
Evaluation of Vine-to-Cellar Chasselas Nitrogen Nutrition in the Canton of Vaud
A survey conducted in the Canton of Vaud on Chasselas reveals frequent nitrogen deficiencies in the vineyard for the 2022-2023 vintage, despite the application of soil supplements. Only a third of those surveyed measure yeast-assimilable nitrogen (YAN) in the must.
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How the Lifespan of Dairy Cows Affects Profitability
A study examines the economic drivers of the optimal productive lifespan of dairy cows in two Swiss production systems.
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Agroscope, ETH Zurich, Lidl Swiss
Effect of Flower Strips on Aphid Antagonists in Sugar Beet Fields
Autumn-sown annual or perennial flower strips support antagonists of aphids, which are vectors of virus yellows, a severe disease in sugar beet. The effectiveness of these strips is influenced by floral composition, sowing time point and surrounding landscape elements.
