Executive Summary

Agroscope, the Canton of Vaud, and Prométerre are establishing a joint experimental station in Grange-Verney to improve soil quality in Swiss agriculture. The platform links research, practice, and knowledge transfer and will launch its first projects on over 100 hectares in 2026. The focus is on restoring organic soil matter, which has declined significantly in Vaud – Switzerland's grain basket.

People

Topics

  • Soil health and soil fertility
  • Sustainable agriculture
  • Research-practice cooperation
  • Organic soil matter
  • Climate change adaptation

Clarus Lead

Swiss agriculture is under pressure: the Canton of Vaud, which produces 20% of national grain and 30% of oilseeds, is continuously losing organic soil matter. This threatens long-term productivity and economic viability. The new experimental station addresses this central problem through systematic field trials under real conditions, creating a bridge between scientific research and practical implementation. The four-year partnership enables gradual expansion to include additional partners.

Detailed Summary

Soils fulfill critical functions for the environment and society: they are habitats for biological diversity, regulate carbon, nutrient, and water cycles, and filter drinking water. For economically viable, high-quality food production, healthy, fertile soils are essential. Given climatic and economic changes, soil health has become a key variable for the resilience of Swiss agriculture.

Vaud, as Switzerland's leading arable farming region, is experiencing a significant decline in organic matter in its soils – intensified by declining cattle farming and intensive land use. This trend threatens the long-term productivity and climate resilience of arable land. The new Agricultural Soil Experimental Station in Moudon is intended to develop concrete solutions under practical conditions. Under the leadership of Robin Krischer and steered by Agroscope, the Canton of Vaud, and Prométerre, field trials will be conducted on over 100 hectares across a network of partner farms.

The operational approach combines direct collaboration with farmers, scientific expertise, and educational work. Workshops with practitioners identify specific challenges; solutions are developed jointly. Starting in 2026, a trial with soil cover crops (green manure) will begin to optimize plant selection and management methods. In parallel, a systemic long-term trial on crop rotation, soil cultivation, and fertilization will run. The findings will benefit all Swiss farms facing similar challenges.

Key Statements

  • Strategic Partnership: Agroscope, Canton Vaud, and Prométerre pool expertise to improve soil quality
  • Organic Matter in Focus: The decline in organic soil matter in Vaud threatens productivity and economic viability
  • Research-Practice Transfer: Experimental station tests solutions under real conditions and accelerates implementation on farms
  • Concrete Measures: Green manure trials and systemic long-term trials starting in 2026 on over 100 hectares
  • National Relevance: Results benefit all Swiss agricultural farms

Critical Questions

  1. Data Quality: How will soil parameters (organic matter, nutrient dynamics) be measured and validated? What standards ensure comparability over four years?

  2. Representativeness: To what extent are the 100 hectares of partner farms in Moudon representative of all of Vaud and other Swiss arable farming regions with different soils and climates?

  3. Conflicts of Interest: How is it ensured that results are reported independently of commercial interests (e.g., fertilizer manufacturers, seed suppliers)? Who controls publications?

  4. Causality: What control groups or comparison farms exist? How are weather, market prices, and other confounding variables accounted for to establish causality?

  5. Implementation Risks: What obstacles (costs, labor, yield losses) could prevent farmers from adopting new practices? Are incentive mechanisms planned?

  6. Time Horizon: Four years is short for soil improvement. How is long-term financing secured after 2030? What interim results are planned?

  7. Knowledge Transfer: How will findings be concretely communicated to farms? What training and advisory structures exist?

Sources

Primary Source: New Experimental Station for Improving the Quality of Agricultural Soils – news.admin.ch, 12.02.2026

Verification Status: ✓ 12.02.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 12.02.2026