Rapid further development of the genetic scissors
Research

Rapid further development of the genetic scissors

CRISPR-Cas has been used worldwide since 2012 to modify genes in organisms with pinpoint accuracy. With the help of protein engineering and AI algorithms, researchers at the University of Zurich have now developed a new, more compact ‘genetic scissors’. This and similar variants will make it possible to edit genes ever more efficiently.

More agrobiodiversity thanks to genome editing
New Breeding Technologies

More agrobiodiversity thanks to genome editing

It is often wrongly claimed that new breeding technologies such as genome editing restrict diversity in the seed market. A new study shows that the opposite is the case. Genome editing promotes agrobiodiversity.

Catastrophic wheat harvest:  Bad weather and restrictions on crop protection
Media

Catastrophic wheat harvest: Bad weather and restrictions on crop protection

The reports are piling up: 2024 will go down in history as the worst wheat harvest in decades. One of Switzerland's largest grain collection centres in Thalheim an der Thur suffers a historic loss.

«Plant breeding calls for liberal rules»

Jürg Niklaus

Jürg Niklaus

Jürg Niklaus has a doctorate in law and is an advocate of plant breeding.

More pesticides, more genetic engineering: How we are overcoming hunger.

Markus Somm

Markus Somm

Journalist, publicist, publisher and historian

«What plant breeding brings us»

Achim Walter

Achim Walter

Professor of Crop Science, ETH Zurich

Content in German

«The fear of genetically modified plants is unwarranted»

Anke Fossgreen

Anke Fossgreen

Head of Knowledge Team Tamedia

«Politicians must avoid pushing prices up even more»

Babette Sigg Frank

Babette Sigg Frank

President of the Swiss Consumer Forum (KF)

Seizing the opportunity of green biotechnology

Roman Mazzotta

Roman Mazzotta

Country President Syngenta Switzerland

«Sustainability means more»

Hendrik Varnholt

Hendrik Varnholt

Journalist at Lebensmittel Zeitung

«One-third organic farming does not solve the problem»

Olaf Deininger

Olaf Deininger

Development Editor-in-Chief Agrar-Medien

«Plant breeding calls for liberal rules»

Jürg Niklaus

Jürg Niklaus

Jürg Niklaus has a doctorate in law and is an advocate of plant breeding.

More pesticides, more genetic engineering: How we are overcoming hunger.

Markus Somm

Markus Somm

Journalist, publicist, publisher and historian

«What plant breeding brings us»

Achim Walter

Achim Walter

Professor of Crop Science, ETH Zurich

Content in German

«The fear of genetically modified plants is unwarranted»

Anke Fossgreen

Anke Fossgreen

Head of Knowledge Team Tamedia

«Politicians must avoid pushing prices up even more»

Babette Sigg Frank

Babette Sigg Frank

President of the Swiss Consumer Forum (KF)

Seizing the opportunity of green biotechnology

Roman Mazzotta

Roman Mazzotta

Country President Syngenta Switzerland

«Sustainability means more»

Hendrik Varnholt

Hendrik Varnholt

Journalist at Lebensmittel Zeitung

«One-third organic farming does not solve the problem»

Olaf Deininger

Olaf Deininger

Development Editor-in-Chief Agrar-Medien

More opinion pieces

Myths & Facts

swiss-food stands for fact-based information. Important facts are explained here in an understandable way.

To the myths and facts

From the media

Imports instead of regionality: tomato virus destroys domestic production
Media

Imports instead of regionality: tomato virus destroys domestic production

Although tomatoes and peppers are among the most popular vegetables in Switzerland, most of them are imported. Extreme weather conditions and diseases are to blame. The first companies have already developed resistant tomato varieties – but the federal government remains sceptical of new technologies.

Catastrophic wheat harvest:  Bad weather and restrictions on crop protection
Media

Catastrophic wheat harvest: Bad weather and restrictions on crop protection

The reports are piling up: 2024 will go down in history as the worst wheat harvest in decades. One of Switzerland's largest grain collection centres in Thalheim an der Thur suffers a historic loss.

« The Bernese winegrowers spray and spray »
Media

« The Bernese winegrowers spray and spray »

The heavy rainfall this summer has hit Bernese wine-makers hard and once again made it clear that crop protection is essential – especially in difficult growing years. The fact that fungal resistance also affects crop losses shows how precarious the situation is. Nevertheless, the federal government is hesitant when it comes to the authorisation of modern pesticides and new breeding technologies.

Why jellyfish could soon end up on our plates
Media

Why jellyfish could soon end up on our plates

Will jellyfish become the new star in the superfood sky? Experts recommend eating them and rave about the slippery sea creatures as a new source of protein. However, such products have yet to be authorised.

More contributions from Media

Subscribe to newsletter

To the newsletter archive

Knowledge

The ideological misuse of «scientific» studies
Knowledge

The ideological misuse of «scientific» studies

Science serves as a basis for political decisions, including in nature conservation. However, a key question is: how trustworthy are the underlying studies and data? An article in the «NZZ am Sonntag» and the explanations provided by Quarks offer revealing perspectives on the quality of scientific studies and the possible misuse of figures.

How can biodiversity be protected effectively?
Knowledge

How can biodiversity be protected effectively?

Biodiversity is essential to life. And it is currently a very topical issue. The obligation to set aside areas of Swiss farmland for biodiversity promotion has clearly not achieved the desired objectives. Recently published studies indicate that species diversity remains under pressure. This is what prompted swiss-food, in the latest of its series of talks with three established experts, to focus on the tensions between biodiversity and agriculture and to shed some light on the reasons for these.

Why AI has not yet had its breakthrough in agriculture
Knowledge

Why AI has not yet had its breakthrough in agriculture

Artificial intelligence is gaining ground in many areas. However, the new technology does not yet seem to have really arrived in agriculture. The reason for this is nature, which is throwing a spanner in the works of AI. Nevertheless, the opportunities that AI could offer agriculture are immense.

Nutrition: Does the future belong to the green gene scissors?
Knowledge

Nutrition: Does the future belong to the green gene scissors?

New plant varieties contribute to security of supply. The new breeding methods known as "gene scissors", such as Crispr, have the potential to revolutionise agriculture and nutrition.

More contributions from Knowledge
Green biotech: safety concerns no longer hold water
New Breeding Technologies

Green biotech: safety concerns no longer hold water

At the end of October, swiss-food.ch hosted a film screening and panel discussion in Zurich on the subject of genome editing entitled “Between Protest and Potential”. The well-attended event dealt with the emotional debates in recent decades surrounding genetic engineering. The event showed that the situation has changed fundamentally.

Read more

Audio & Video

swiss-food has a large selection of exciting videos and podcasts on the topics of food, agriculture and research.

To the podcasts and videos

Politics

In plant breeding the music plays elsewhere
Politics

In plant breeding the music plays elsewhere

Switzerland is a centre of innovation, but unfortunately this promise has not yet been kept when it comes to the more modern methods of plant breeding. Openness would be a good thing for innovative Switzerland here too.

Enabling what is inevitable
Politics

Enabling what is inevitable

The opponents of progress are once again in the starting blocks. In mid-April, critics of genetic engineering announced a popular initiative aimed at making any relaxation of the existing moratorium on genetic engineering impossible. The exact wording is not yet known, but the statements made by the exponents make it clear that the total blockade on modern plant breeding is to be enshrined in the constitution.

EU decision in favour of new breeding methods with stumbling blocks
Politics

EU decision in favour of new breeding methods with stumbling blocks

On 7 February, the EU Parliament voted in favour of approving the new genomic breeding methods in the EU. MEPs voted in favour of a corresponding proposal by 307 votes to 263 with 41 abstentions. Further deliberations will now follow.

Authorisation of new crop protection products:  federal government hesitates, parliament exerts pressure
Politics

Authorisation of new crop protection products: federal government hesitates, parliament exerts pressure

In Switzerland, the authorisation of new crop protection products is stalling. And there is a disturbing asymmetry. The federal government immediately withdraws authorisations for crop protection products that the EU takes off the market.

More contributions from Politics

Blindspot

Blindspot articles are marked with a small spotlight and illuminate the «blind spots» in the agricultural policy debate.

To the Blindspot articles

Research

Rapid further development of the genetic scissors
Research

Rapid further development of the genetic scissors

CRISPR-Cas has been used worldwide since 2012 to modify genes in organisms with pinpoint accuracy. With the help of protein engineering and AI algorithms, researchers at the University of Zurich have now developed a new, more compact ‘genetic scissors’. This and similar variants will make it possible to edit genes ever more efficiently.

Using Crispr to combat climate change
Media Research

Using Crispr to combat climate change

In the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper, Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna talks about the opportunities and risks of gene scissors. The tool can be used to specifically treat hereditary diseases, breed drought-tolerant plants and reduce greenhouse gas emis-sions from cows.

Anxious sweat as a cry for help
Media Research

Anxious sweat as a cry for help

Plants live dangerously. They are surrounded by predators. But they are not completely at their mercy. Decades of research have shown this. For example, plants emit odours when attacked. This realisation could lead to new strategies for plant protection. However, it is still uncertain whether this will ever lead to a widely used product.

It pays to take a closer look
Media Research

It pays to take a closer look

Pesticides are to blame for an increase in brain tumours in children in the Zürcher Weinland and the Bernese Seeland, according to a study carried out three years ago. Experts commissioned by the federal government have now come to a different conclusion: the results could also have been accidental.

More contributions from Research

Subscribe to newsletter

To the newsletter archive