News

Three women spin-off founders from ETH Zurich have developed a portable measuring device called Digit Soil that analyses soil quality and enables customised fertilisation. The sensor makes farming more sustainable and efficient while reducing its environmental impact.

By focusing on identifying efficient pea varieties with superior photosynthetic performance, a new interdisciplinary project explores an alternative approach to improving nitrogen use efficiency at the farm level.

Many types of bacteria produce a protein complex that injects toxins into neighbouring cells to eliminate competitors. For the first time, researchers at ETH Zurich and Eawag discovered that these killer bacteria also use this weapon to feed on their neighbours.

A delegation from Indian ministries and universities visited ETH Zurich in May to learn more about research and initiatives focused on agroecology and resilience.

Five years ago, an experiment began at ETH Hönggerberg: researchers set up an outdoor laboratory in the forest near the campus. They used sensors positioned in trees, the soil and in a stream to study water dynamics and the “old water paradox”. ETH News accompanied the head of the experiment, Marius Floriancic.

Recognizing the limitations of current crop monitoring techniques in providing timely and precise data, an ongoing project is developing an innovative solution using smartphone vision and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This technology is aimed to provide farmers and researchers with detailed 3D/4D insights into plant health and development, advancing sustainable agricultural management.

Hidden beneath the Antarctic ice lies a system of lakes and watercourses. An research team, including ETH researchers, has for the first time directly observed the subglacial streams of West Antarctica. Their study shows how individual flood events influence the melting of the ice.

The role of water for food and nutrition security was the central theme of a three-day course held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome. Organized by the World Food System Center, as part of a lecture on food security, the course brought together agricultural and environmental science students from ETH Zurich for an interactive learning experience.

An innovative project is underway to equip farmers with low-power, cost-effective sensors designed to measure nitrous oxide emissions directly in their fields. This technology offers a promising route towards a more sustainable agriculture by enabling farmers to optimize fertilization and mitigate nitrous oxide emissions.