International Conference on Resilience
When? January 15–16, 2026
Where? Zurich–Baden
The following distinguished speakers will be joining us:
-
Bruno Basso, Michigan State University
-
Louise Fresco, Wageningen University
-
Ian Roberts, Bühler Group
-
Beat Keller, University of Zurich
-
Eleni Gabre-Madhin, United Nations Development Programme
Related articles
Unwanted Invaders: Why Pesticides Are Essential in the Fight Against Invasive Species
They are small, highly mobile and extremely persistent: invasive species are spreading increasingly across Switzerland. Whether it is the Japanese beetle, the Asian hornet or newly discovered ant species, these unwelcome guests threaten not only native ecosystems, but also agriculture and residential areas. There is an urgent need for pesticides – including biocides and plant protection products – to combat these pests effectively.
Is Organic More Sustainable?
Organic food is considered a prime example of sustainability – but in reality, it often ends up in the waste bin faster than conventional products. The omission of artificial preservatives and modern plant protection drastically shortens shelf life and leads to more food waste.
"Natural is healthy, chemicals are toxic."
Everything that occurs in nature is healthy and synthetically produced substances, i.e. "chemical" substances, are toxic. This myth is fundamentally wrong: There are many highly toxic substances in nature, and at the same time there are many synthetic substances that are absolutely harmless.
"The EU is moving forward – Switzerland must not lose touch"
The EU has largely approved genomic plant breeding. Four plant researchers from the University of Zurich, ETH, and Agroscope contextualize the EU decision from June 17, 2026.