Anyone who has travelled through Southeast Asia knows the sight well: rice paddies stretching as far as the eye can see. These water-grown plants provide one of the most important staples of Asian cuisine. In those regions, rice is what wheat or potatoes are to ours.

But our traditional staple crops are facing tough times. Climate change, rising pest pressure, and increasingly strict plant protection rules are making it harder to grow wheat, potatoes, and other essentials. Studies suggest that by 2050–2060, harvest yields could fall by more than 50 % due to heat and drought alone. It’s no surprise, then, that Swiss farmers are looking for alternatives – and turning to rice.

In the canton of Ticino, rice has been grown for some time already, using what’s known as dry cultivation. Unlike in Asia, the fields there aren’t flooded; instead, the plants thrive in well-drained soil that is regularly irrigated. The Ticino model shows that profitable rice production is possible even in relatively dry regions.

Rice instead of lamb’s lettuce

Farmers in the Swiss Midlands have gone one step further: in recent years, they have begun cultivating paddy rice – similar to traditional Asian rice farming. Around 14 farms north of the Alps now harvest about 240 tons per year. The flooded fields not only favour plant growth but also create valuable habitats for amphibians, dragonflies, and other wetland species. The federal research institute Agroscope supports these projects scientifically and helps optimize cultivation methods.

One pioneer is Bernese farmer and agricultural engineer Léandre Guillod. Together with his brother, he is now the largest rice producer north of the Alps. On his fields in Seeland and Aarberg, he once grew lamb’s lettuce – but rising summer temperatures increasingly prevent germination. Rice, on the other hand, loves the heat. 'The hotter, the better,' says Guillod, who has found a promising new crop for his farm.

Different crop, similar challenges

Still, success doesn’t come easily. Overall results are mixed: growing paddy rice requires experience, technical precision, and patience. Good harvests alternate with failures caused by cool summers or high weed pressure. Processing small quantities is expensive, pushing the retail price up to around 12 francs per kilo. For now, Swiss rice remains a niche product for customers who value local origin.

Continuous cultivation on the same fields can also lead to persistent weed problems. Many farmers therefore use crop rotation or allow land to rest between seasons to preserve soil health. Experts emphasize that good farming practices, targeted weed control, and careful water management are crucial for success.

Given changing environmental conditions, rice may well have a future in Switzerland. Yet it faces the same challenges as other crops. Without effective plant protection and robust varieties, the Swiss rice experiment could quite literally go under – which would be a pity for a crop that so clearly demonstrates how adaptable and innovative Swiss agriculture can be.