Irrigation Project to Secure La Broye Agriculture

A cooperative irrigation project designed to secure water supply for one of Switzerland’s key agricultural regions has taken a significant step forward with its official establishment as a legal entity.

The intercantonal ArroBroye project, which aims to ensure long-term water access for farming in the Broye region spanning the cantons of Vaud and Fribourg, was constituted as a cooperative on December 4, 2025. Fabrice Bersier, a Fribourg-based farmer and president of ArroBroye, confirmed the development in mid-April 2026, noting that the initiative has been in planning for nearly a decade.

The project seeks to pump water from Lake Neuchâtel to irrigate over 4,000 hectares of farmland, supporting the cultivation of crops such as potatoes, maize, wheat, sugar beet, and rapeseed. Bersier described the Broye as one of Switzerland’s primary “granaries” or breadbaskets, emphasizing its importance for national food security.

With climate change increasing the frequency of temporary irrigation bans during early summer, ArroBroye aims to reduce farmers’ vulnerability to water shortages while also protecting local watercourses from overuse. Bersier criticized the inefficiency of intermittent watering, stating, “There is nothing worse than watering a little and then stopping,” highlighting the need for a reliable supply.

The cooperative has gained broad support, with 170 farmers and 13 communes now involved in the initiative. Bersier characterized the project as truly “federative,” noting its ability to unite agricultural stakeholders and environmental organizations concerned with biodiversity and river quality.

ArroBroye represents a sustained effort to adapt agricultural practices to evolving environmental conditions, combining long-term production security with regional water protection goals.