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Environment 23.03.23

Schleiffer M., Speiser B.

A review on the current scientific literature showed that pesticides are widely present in soils, water and air and have a potential to contaminate organic produce. These contamination pathways must be considered when findings of pesticide residues are investigated.

Food 22.03.23

Kopf-Bolanz K.A., Villarreal Cruz M.C., Walther B., Denkel C., Guggisberg D.

The number of plant-based beverages on supermarket shelves is constantly increasing. The physicochemical properties of these beverages, such as their colour or foamability, vary according to the plant they are made from, and determine their use as an alternative to milk.

Agroscope, BFH-HAFL

Environment 20.03.23

Korkaric M., Lehto M., Poiger T., de Baan L., Mathis M., Ammann L., Hanke I., Balmer M., Blom J.F.

Agroscope has developed risk indicators which show the development of risks associated with the use of plant protection products for important environmental compartments, describe the risk potential of the active substances and take account of legal measures for risk mitigation.

Food 09.03.23

von Ah U., Arias-Roth E.

Selected microorganisms extend the shelf-life of foods, thereby contributing to a reduction in food waste. In a study of the literature, Agroscope highlighted the important role of protective cultures and fermentation.

Agricultural economics 02.03.23

Pedolin D., Jan P., Roesch A., Six J., Nemecek T.

Do farmers who produce in environmentally friendly ways earn less income? As an Agroscope study shows, this needs not be the case, and farmers can actually generate more revenue by protecting the environment.

Agroscope, ETH Zurich

Plant production 22.02.23

Frick R., Suter D., Hirschi H, Dereuder E., Coudry C.

In temporary grassland, alfalfa is used mainly in three-year mixtures for dry locations. Following recent variety trials, Agroscope has added the new varieties Nutrix and Andantino to the list of recommended forage plants for 2023–2024.

Food 21.02.23

Ammann J., Arbenz A., Mack G., Nemecek T., El Benni N.

It’s not easy to change eating habits. In a study of the literature, Agroscope investigated which policy measures favour a sustainable diet. Market-oriented tools and bans prove effective, but are fairly unpopular.

Plant production 13.02.23

Clémence S., Zorn A.

Oats, triticale, hull-less barley, lupin, faba beans and buckwheat are rarely cultivated. The EU project CROPDIVA intends to change that. Agroscope analyses the value chains of four of these crops in order to promote their cultivation and processing.

Agricultural economics 07.02.23

Heitkämper K., Reissig L., Glück S., Mann S.

A hoeing and spot-spraying device enables huge savings in the use of plant protection products. Although costs are higher than for conventional plant protection devices, motivated farm managers give this innovative technology genuine prospects for the future.

Agricultural economics 02.02.23

Ritzel C., Hoop D., Portmann M., Wallner A. und Mack G.

Thanks to their unique landscapes, the 15 regional nature parks, the majority of which are located in the (pre-)Alps and in the Jura Arc, feature as tourist attractions. But do the parks also provide economic value-added for local agriculture?

Environment 27.01.23

Schaub S., Elmiger N., Ghazoul J., Finger R

Those wishing to promote biodiversity in agriculture by means of result-based schemes need meaningful indicators. An overview of proposed and used indicators highlights developments and challenges.

Agroscope, ETH Zurich

Environment 20.01.23

Beal T., Gardner C.D., Herrero M., Iannotti L.L., Merbold L., Nordhagen S., Mottet A.

Foods of animal origin – friend or foe? It all depends on the needs of consumers and on local production conditions, as shown by a major review in which Agroscope took part.

Agroscope, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, University of California, Stanford University School of Medicine, Cornell University, Washington University, FAO

Environment 19.01.23

Spiess E., Humphrys C., Liebisch F., Prasuhn V., Neuweiler R.

In vegetable production it is usual to leave crop residues on the field. Measurements carried out by Agroscope researchers show that removing these residues significantly reduces nitrate leaching.

Agricultural economics 16.01.23

To balance their nutrient cycles, Swiss farms export surplus farmyard manure to farms with free uptake capacities or to composting and anaerobic digestion facilities. Between 2015 and 2020 the volumes of organic manure and recycled fertilisers transported rose significantly, with a consequent increase in transport costs.

Environment 11.01.23

Zorn A., Clémence S.

Which measures are suitable for significantly reducing pesticide use in field crops? In the PestiRed project, farmers rate the implemented measures as largely positive; with a differentiated result for economic efficiency.

Animal production 20.12.22

Holzer S., Keller M., Humbert F.-L., Laube D., Burren A. und Herholz C.

Stable climate has an important impact on the respiratory health of horses. In a study on indoor climate quality, three different ventilation systems were tested.

BFH-HAFL, Direction des institutions, de l’agriculture et des forêts (DIAF), B+M AGROTECH

Plant production 14.12.22

Spring J.-L-, Zufferey V., Verdenal T., Reynard J.-S., Lorenzini F., Bourdin G., Blouin A., Carlen C., Jermini M., Morisoli R., Ferretti M.

Five Merlot clones bred in Switzerland are currently being distributed by the certification sector. A multiyear trial conducted by Agroscope in Gudo (Canton of Ticino) has made it possible to compare them with French and Italian reference clones and to highlight their very good performances.

Environment 08.12.22

Diener M., Binder S., Plath M.

The reduction of environmental risks from plant protection products is to be monitored by the Confederation using a risk indicator. The indicator also takes into account the degree of implementation of risk reduction measures in practice. This degree of implementation was estimated by a study.

Agridea, Plattform Pflanzenschutzmittel und Gewässer (PPG)

Environment 06.12.22

van der Heijden M. G. A., Edlinger A., Riedo J., Walder F., Bucheli T. D. et al.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are important for healthy soils and crops. A pan-European study shows that plant-protection products adversely affect these fungi, reducing their ability to supply plants with phosphorus via their roots.

Plant production 02.12.22

Suter D., Frick R. und Hirschi H.U.

Birdsfoot trefoil and sainfoin are used in mixtures for perennial hay meadows and for tannin-containing fodder. Agroscope is adding two new cultivars of birdsfoot trefoil to the ‘List of Recommended Varieties of Forage Plants’, whilst there is no change in the case of sainfoin.

Environment 22.11.22

Argento F., Liebisch F., Anken T., El Benni N.

A comparison of different methods of winter-wheat fertilisation with nitrogen showed that nitrogen surpluses can be significantly reduced by means of site-specific variable-rate nitrogen fertilisation.

Agroscope, ETH Zurich

Agricultural economics 18.11.22

Zimmert F., Zorn A.

Employment in the agricultural sector is declining in many European countries, especially in livestock farming. Direct payments can counter this trend and lead to the employment of more – especially female – family members on the farm.

Animal production 14.11.22

Gazzarin C., Blättler T., Bütler A., Durgiai B. und Schmid D.

Although milk-production oriented (MPO) cow breeds have also become established in the mountain region, farms with the dual-purpose ‘Original Simmental’ breed are proving to be economically viable, with lower costs and higher direct payments making up for lower revenues from milk.

Agroscope, BFH-HAFL

Environment 10.11.22

Fabian Y., Roberti G., Jacot K., Gramlich A., Benz R., Szerencsits E., Churko G., Prasuhn V., Leifeld J., Zorn A., Walter T. (ꝉ), Herzog F.

Many tile drainage systems on arable land are in need of renewal. Cantons and stakeholders will now be given a decision-making tool enabling them to assess such areas in detail and to find sustainable solutions.

Environment 08.11.22

Kupper T., Häni C., Bretscher D., Zaucker F.

Ammonia emissions from the Swiss farming sector have scarcely declined over the past 20 years. This is because the factors leading to either an increase or decrease in emissions have for the most part cancelled each other out between 2000 and 2020.

BFH-HAFL, Agroscope, OETIKER+PARTNER AG

Animal production 03.11.22

Bach L., Ammann J., Bruckmaier R. M., Müller U., Umstätter C.

High milk yields before drying-off increase the risk of udder infections during the dry period. An online survey highlights what drying-off methods are currently used and how farmers rate the ‘incomplete milking’ approach for reducing milk yield.

Agroscope, University of Bern, Thünen-Institut, Universität Bonn

Plant production 31.10.22

Suter D., Frick R., Hirschi H.U.

Tall oat grass and golden oat grass are typical hay-meadow grasses that are also suitable for forage mixtures. Of the four tall and three golden oat grass varieties tested, only one new variety of tall oat grass is likely to make it onto the List of Recommended Varieties.

Food 26.10.22

Bachmann H.P. and Wampfler B.

Plants and microorganisms can perceive and respond to sound waves. In a review of the literature, Agroscope analysed various publications on this topic. The studies show that sound can lead to positive effects on physiology in the form of improved growth, development and disease resistance.

Agroscope, Käsehaus K3

Environment 24.10.22

Meier E., Lüscher G., Knop E.

Agroscope has highlighted for the first time the factors that are key for the targeted, large-scaled promotion of biodiversity in agriculture. Focusing on agriculture as a whole is especially important.

Plant production 19.10.22

Stevenel P., Wendling M., Brabant C., Suss H., Savoyat C., Dierauer H., Mascher F., Charles R.

FiBL and Agroscope investigated bread wheat varieties to determine their yield and quality stability. The results show that the choice of variety must be adapted to the site and that high yield potential does not go hand-in-hand with a high protein content.

Agroscope, FiBL