New Experimental Station Launches in Switzerland to Improve Agricultural Soil Quality
Moudon, Switzerland – – A unique experimental station dedicated to improving the quality of agricultural soils has officially opened in Moudon, in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. The station aims to address growing concerns about soil degradation and its impact on food security and environmental sustainability.
The initiative, spearheaded by Agroscope, the Swiss centre of excellence for agricultural research, represents a significant investment in understanding and restoring the health of agricultural lands. According to a press release from the Canton of Vaud, the station will serve as a “laboratory in the open air,” providing a space for research, experimentation and the development of innovative solutions.
The launch comes at a critical time, as modern agricultural practices have often led to soil depletion and reduced biodiversity. A recent review published in Nature highlights the need for comprehensive restoration actions that consider the interdependence of multiple soil properties, including their contribution to vegetative yield. The study emphasizes that focusing solely on food production has often come at the expense of long-term soil health.
The new station will focus on a range of analytical capabilities, including analyses of soils, mineral solids, eluates, leachate, groundwater, surface water, and wastewater. AGROLAB, which is preparing to establish an environmental laboratory near Zurich Airport, will offer a wide range of accredited environmental parameters in accordance with Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) guidance and recognised ISO/EPA standards. These include mineral oil hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), volatile organic compounds (VOC), PFAS analysis, and pesticides.
“This combination forms the analytical basis for numerous applications — from contaminated site and remediation projects to geotechnical investigations, industrial and infrastructure projects, recycling and disposal,” AGROLAB stated in a recent news release. The integration of the Swiss facility into the AGROLAB GROUP will provide access to a broader European laboratory network.
The establishment of the station reflects a growing awareness of the importance of soil health in achieving both food security and environmental sustainability. Research from Frontiers in Plant Science underscores the crucial role of modern agricultural technologies in addressing these challenges. The station’s work will likely contribute to the advancement of these technologies and their implementation in Swiss agriculture.
Valérie Dittli, a state councillor, and Eva Reinhard of Agroscope were present at the inauguration, alongside Robin Krischer, the station’s director, and Martin Pidoux of Prométerre. The project represents a collaborative effort between research institutions, government agencies, and private sector partners.
The station’s research will be vital in identifying restoration actions and success indicators that foster sustainable use of agricultural soils while increasing their multifunctionality – their ability to simultaneously supply multiple ecosystem services, including food and feed production. The need to balance provisioning services, such as yield, with broader ecosystem services is a key challenge highlighted in the Nature review.
Further information about the station is available in German, French, and Italian. Those interested in learning more can contact medien@agroscope.admin.ch.
