Within the Swiss Living Lab, ten On-Farm Experiments (OFEs) are distributed across the Swiss Plateau, particularly in the cantons of Fribourg and Vaud. The Swiss plateau accounts for 57% of Switzerland’s arable land and is located mainly between 600 and 800 m a.s.l. The participating farms represent diverse farming systems, ranging from specialized arable farms to mixed systems combining crop production with dairy or beef cattle. Farm sizes range from 27 to 230 hectares, with an average of 68 hectares. More than 14 crop species are cultivated across the OFEs, with bread wheat, rapeseed, sugar beet and temporary grassland being the most common. Less common crops, such as chicory and chickpeas, are also grown. This diversity is accompanied by a wide range of intensification levels and production standards, including IP-Suisse and Bio Suisse.
The participating farmers are highly motivated to develop solutions adapted to their specific farming contexts (Fig. 1). They have identified two main topics of interest: efficient crop nutrition and sustainable weed management. During a co-construction workshop in February 2025, each farmer defined objectives and clear targets to be achieved by the end of the project in 2027. For instance, to improve crop nutrition efficiency, farmers implement adapted fertilization strategies and test new forms of nitrogen fertilizer, such as CULTAN. Regarding weed management, agroecological levers at the cropping-system level are crucial. Some farmers have defined the goal of crop diversification within their crop succession, whilst others opt for a combination of practices, including late sowing of cereals and false seedbeds, to combat herbicide-resistant ryegrass.
Figure 1 : Discussion around cover crop implantation strategies during a field visit that took place on January 21st, 2026, in the canton of Vaud
During the 2025 field season, the OFEs were progressively implemented to test techniques tailored to farm-specific conditions. Based on soil monitoring and mineral nitrogen assessments, we developed a fertilization plan for each plot. Some farmers modified crop rotations by introducing new spring crops, such as sunflowers, or changing crop sequences to reduce weed pressure or nitrogen leaching. In other cases, the nitrogen requirements of sugar beet, maize or barley were assessed to determine appropriate fertilization rates and combinations of mineral and organic fertilizers. One organic farm is combining a longer crop rotation (six years) with temporary grassland and reduced ploughing intensity to decrease soil tillage while maintaining low weed pressure
Crop establishment, one of the SIMONE topics, was explored during a “Soil Day” in February 2026, organised with agricultural advisors and supported by Agridea, an organisation specialised in scientific dissemination and agricultural training. Farmers were trained in soil assessment using soil pits and spade tests (Fig. 2).
Figure 2 : Farmers, advisers and researchers gathered around a soil pit during the technical seminar on soil organised by Agroscope on 23 February 2026 in Vallon (Canton of Fribourg)
Across the ten OFEs, Agroscope works closely with farmers to objectively assess their practices and document their technical, economic and environmental outcomes. Field monitoring of weed pressure and nitrogen status, combined with multi-criteria analysis at the cropping-system level, will help determine whether agroecological changes can maintain economically viable yields while improving overall sustainability. All OFEs are described in factsheets.
Discover all the factsheets of Living Lab Switzerland
The next step in the Living Lab development is to engage with stakeholders who can support the agricultural transition, considering the economic, political and regulatory links they have with the farms involved in the project.