No Evidence of Urban-Rural Divide in the Prioritisation of Agricultural Policy Goals
How Can Organic Farming Be Scaled Up Successfully?
Sustainability Levies: Which Are Preferred?
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No Evidence of Urban-Rural Divide in the Prioritisation of Agricultural Policy Goals
A new study by Agroscope and the ETH shows that there is no rural-urban divide in the prioritisation of agricultural policy goals. From very rural to very urban, the Swiss population puts economic objectives before environmental ones.
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Agroscope, FiBL, University of Bonn, Production Economics Group
How Can Organic Farming Be Scaled Up Successfully?
A global review of the literature shows that successful strategies for promoting organic agriculture vary from one region to another and require a combination of measures, e.g economic incentives coupled with educational and informational campaigns.
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Sustainability Levies: Which Are Preferred?
Steering levies can change consumer behaviour. An Agroscope study focusing on a sustainability levy on food showed that social sustainability and animal welfare levies are most likely to meet with acceptance.
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Precise herbage biomass estimation on pastures using a UAV-based model
A new model for predicting herbage biomass in pastures uses UAV-based image data and machine learning. The method promises greater accuracy and flexibility compared to conventional measurement methods.
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Nitrogen-Saving Potential through the Application of Corrected Fertilisation Standards
A site specific nitrogen fertilisation requirement can be calculated with the help of the ‘corrected norms’ method. The method was applied and evaluated in the AgroCO2ncept project in the Zurich Wine Country, where it demonstrated substantial nitrogen-saving potential.
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Geographical Indications Affect Import and Export Prices
Geographical indications are essential for international cheese trading. A protected name such as Roquefort achieves a higher price premium than a compound name such as Gouda Holland where the cheese type (Gouda) itself is not protected.
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How Prices and Fertiliser Use Can Be Linked
Fluctuations in the price of fertilisers and agricultural products influence the economic efficiency of fertiliser use. This can create economic incentives for reducing fertiliser use.
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Weed Flora in Wheat, Barley and Oilseed Rape with Reduced Herbicide Use
In the PestiRed project, farmers test agroecological measures for reducing the use of chemical plant-protection products. Agroscope identified and characterised the weed flora of wheat, barley and oilseed rape.
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Scope of Action of Family Farms
To date, the perceived extent of the freedom of action of farmers has rarely been used to evaluate the social sustainability of farms. Now, however, a new indicator has been developed that illustrates the scope for action of family farms in terms of consumption and production.
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Organic Pig Fattening Pays Off for Large Farms
Agroscope analysed the economic situation of organic fattening-pig production in Switzerland. The study shows that six of the ten farms examined – particularly the larger ones – can produce profitably.
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Agroscope, Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach
Agriculture and Biodiversity: Systematic Overview Identifies Important Avenues for Future Research
The intensification of agriculture has greatly changed Europe’s agroecosystems, with major implications for biodiversity. An overview study by Agroscope and the Swiss Ornithological Institute identifies the most important areas for future research with a view to minimising the uncertainties of currently available knowledge.
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What are Farms in Switzerland Doing to Preserve Biodiversity?
To prevent biodiversity decline, Swiss farms are implementing 19.3% of their utilised agricultural area as ecological focus areas (EFA). It appears that organic farms implement considerably more and qualitatively better EFAs than do PEP farms.
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Agroscope, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)
Sustainable Soil Management Requires a Mixture of Support Measures
An Agroscope study shows that Swiss farmers have different soil management priorities. Considering these may increase the effectiveness of information and policy measures to promote sustainable soil management.
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The Highly Diverse and Nutrient-Rich Inner Life of Sourdough Bread
The microbial composition of the sourdough culture defines the character of the bread baked from it. A sourdough can increase the health-promoting characteristics of bread when combined with specific types of flour and suitable processing parameters.
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Westerwold Ryegrass: Three New Recommendations and One Candidate for the Variety List
Fast-growing Westerwold ryegrass delivers valuable high yields on annual temporary leys and in forage intercropping. Based on the most recent variety trials, Agroscope can now recommend three new multi-cut varieties and earmark a single-cut variety for recommendation.
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Agricultural Production and Biodiversity Conservation: Four Typical Land-Use Patterns
Swiss farms must decide on the extent to which they produce agricultural goods and provide biodiversity services. Agroscope has analysed and typified the diversity of farm-level land-use patterns.
