News

The World Food System Center again partnered with the Food Zurich festival, presenting the captivating evening event "Science on Your Plate" (Wissenschaft auf dem Teller).

Die ETH Zürich und das World Food System Center starten das transdisziplinäre Projekt Plant4Value zur Stärkung pflanzenbasierter Wertschöpfungsketten „vom Feld bis zum Teller». Das Projekt wird von der Stiftung Mercator Schweiz, der Seedling Foundation und der Minerva Stiftung gefördert. Mit 24 Praxispartnern werden innovative Massnahmen zum Ausbau pflanzenbasierter Wertschöpfungsketten und Ernährung getestet. Der Fokus liegt auf deren wirtschaftlichen, sozialen und ökologischen Tragfähigkeit.

Alumni Stories: Aline von Jüchen reflects on her WFSC Summer School experience, sharing how it ignited her passion for sustainable food systems and shaped her current research on surplus food and collaborative solutions.

Updates from the Novel Protein for Food and Feed Flagship Project include new results from projects addressing food waste management using black soldier fly larvae and participation in the Global Symposium on Insects for Food, Feed and Food Security in Africa.

The RUNRES team recently participated in the International Biochar Initiative and Circular Bioeconomy Network Conference in Nairobi. They showcased innovative Black Soldier Fly (BSF) technology, demonstrating how it converts organic waste into valuable resources, which in turn boosts food security and reduces costs in African city-regions. 

A few weeks ago, the 1st EAAP Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Animal Science took place at ETH Zurich. The event successfully brought together over 200 participants from around the world, showcasing current research on the role of AI in animal science and fostering meaningful exchange among researchers, professionals, and stakeholders.

Six spin-offs of ETH Zurich were among the 18 finalists in this year’s Venture Awards. Three of them won in their respective categories, and three came in second. The Grand Prize went to spin-off MyNerva.

As part of the Swiss Innovation Tour-Food Tech, a group of Italian opinion leaders traveled through Switzerland meeting actors in the food technology ecosytem. The group visited the World Food System Center to learn more about current research and collaborations focused on food processing for sustainable food systems.

Three women spin-off founders from ETH Zurich have developed a portable measuring device that analyses soil quality and enables customised fertilisation. The device 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.

The World Food System Center is launching the Food System Journey website, a platform allowing visitors to explore the challenges in our food system and discover innovative solutions from research at ETH Zurich through captivating graphics, videos, and stories.

We are excited to share the report on our third phase of operations (2021-2024),  which highlights our diverse research, education, and outreach activities focused on food system transformation.

Alumni Stories: Marta López Cifuentes shares how her Summer School experience sparked her interest in investigating alternative models of global food value chains, leading to the successful initiation of a project on trans-local food coalitions.

ETH researchers are developing a drone-based eDNA analysis approach for early detection of invasive species in viticulture. This interdisciplinary project aims to overcome limitations of traditional monitoring, demonstrating the potential of this approach for biomonitoring in initial field trials.

ETH Zurich hosted a delegation from the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) for a dialogue on research and applications in agroecology and the social dimension of food systems transformation.

Switzerland’s glaciers are in increasingly poor shape. If greenhouse gas emissions are not cut drastically soon, they could cease to exist by 2100 – so says ETH Professor Daniel Farinotti in this ETH News interview to mark the first World Day for Glaciers.

Lenny Winkel researches the environmental behaviour of trace elements such as selenium. A native of the Netherlands, she adores the Swiss mountains.

Focusing on the highly productive Campo de Cartagena area in southeast Spain, a new interdisciplinary project seeks to enhance the understanding of how different crop rotation practices impact water and nitrogen balances under climate change scenarios.

A new research funding opportunity aims at addressing critical environmental and human health risks in food systems. 

We are excited to announce that applications for the 2025 World Food System Summer School “Design Ideas for Sustainable Food Systems” are open now!

Updates from the Novel Protein for Food and Feed Flagship Project include the research team from ETH Zurich recently contributed to the Spirulina Industry Development International Conference.

The RUNRES team reports on a successful innovation for improving sanitation systems in South Africa primary schools. The devised state-of-the-art system improves sanitation facilities and also offers the unique, eco-friendly advantage of providing nutrients for school agricultural activities.

Flight ticket prices could rise by 50 percent if aviation is made climate-neutral. This is an estimate from a new study by researchers at ETH Zurich. It is based in particular on the use of synthetic fuels.

A recent study examined how training programs for Indian women working in agriculture can be improved. ETH student Alicia Luther found that effective trainings should be held in a participative and demand-driven way. A participative methodology is key to include participants’ topics of interest, making the potential for adoption higher.

On the Pic du Midi in the Pyrenees, ETH Zurich researchers have analysed particulate matter, clouds and rainwater for traces of arsenic. Using newly developed measurement methods, they have elucidated the transport pathways of the environmental toxin in the atmosphere.

Daria Odermatt and Helena Ström are the winners of this year's Swiss Forum for International Agricultural Research (SFIAR) award. Both Odermatt's and Ström's research offers promising pathways to healthier plants and increased yields for smallholder farmers in Africa.  

At a recent webinar, experts from various fields discussed the current state of true cost accounting, its challenges, and ongoing initiatives aimed at integrating this comprehensive approach into food systems. The event was hosted by the World Food System Center and the Swiss Society for Agricultural Economics and Sociology.

A selected delegation of seven students and researchers represented ETH Zurich and co-organized a side event at World Food Forum, held at the FAO in Rome in October.

People are already being forced to flee the consequences of climate change to an alarming extent in the Global South, says Jan Freihardt. He believes, however, that Europe's fear of mass climate migration is exaggerated, since international migration has other root causes.

On 2 December, Andreas Fischlin will give his farewell lecture. Time for a profile of the systems ecologist who fought against climate change at the highest political level.

Since the 1980s, it’s been known that a mysterious contaminant forms in chloraminated drinking water, but only now has a Swiss-American research team been able to identify the unknown product in US drinking water systems.

The XPRIZE Rainforest competition acknowledged ETH Zurich-led team for its development and deployment of novel, autonomous technologies that enable near real-time insights about biodiversity.

A team led by ETH climate researcher Sandro Vattioni has shown that diamond dust released in the atmosphere could be a good way to cool the climate. However, it is still not a sustainable solution to climate change, says Vattioni in an interview with ETH News.

At the AI + Environment Summit in Zurich, an afternoon workshop led by the World Food System Center focused on the use of AI for sustainable food systems. 

Agroecology is a promising integrated and holistic approach that aims at transforming food systems. Join our upcoming public lecture series to learn more.

ETH spin-off Terensis is able to forecast the harvest yield and climate risks such as droughts and frost with the help of satellites. This not only helps farmers to plan. Authorities and insurance companies can also predict damage more efficiently.

Research areas at ETH Zurich span barriers in a wide variety of fields, including cell biology, drug delivery and spatial planning. Below, we look at examples from six different disciplines.

Nina Cabezas Wallscheid, Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Ageing, is researching the impact of nutrition on the human blood system. Her research team aims to identify the ideal diet for a long and healthy life.

ETH agronomist Fridolin Stocker worked on Swiss farms before discovering his fascination for Africa. Today he manages a coffee farm in Zambia.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new way to break down a dangerous subgroup of PFAS known as PFOS. With the help of nanoparticles and ultrasound, piezocatalysis could offer an effective alternative to existing processes in the future.

The Director General of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization recently visited ETH Zurich to discuss innovation and collaboration for sustainable food systems.

Four researchers from ETH Zurich have successfully applied for Consolidator Grants funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Catastrophic volcanic eruptions that warmed the planet millions of years ago shed new light on how plants evolve and regulate climate. Researchers reveal the long-term climate effects of disturbed natural ecosystems - its implications both in geological history and for today.

Earth seen from space: ETH spin-off askEarth facilitates access to satellite images for environmental and climate monitoring. It supports businesses in combatting deforestation.

Alumni Stories: Karolina Rodriguez and the Board of the World Food Systems Network share the story of the journey of the network from an idea to a vibrant community striving to empowering food systems globally.

Updates from the Novel Protein for Food and Feed Flagship Project include new results from projects addressing food waste management using black soldier fly larvae and presentations at the Insects to Feed the World Conference.

The RUNRES (Rural-Urban Nexus: Establishing a nutrient loop to improve city-region food system Resilience) team held their 5th Annual Meeting in Nyamata, Rwanda, bringing together members from Switzerland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa.

The Center’s recent workshop brought 20 ETH researchers together to learn about elements of food design as well as ways to cultivate a creative mindset and apply it in their studies and work.

Jessica Droujko’s start-up, Riverkin, measures the water quality of freshwater ecosystems and helps quantify and respond to risks such as floods and pollution. Thanks to an ETH Pioneer Fellowship, her work is now picking up speed.

The World Food System Center again joined with Food Zurich to create an innovative dinner event: Science on your Plate. Young researchers from ETH Zurich shared insights from their work with guests enjoying a delicious vegan menu developed by young star cook Mirco Kristal.

ETH researchers are using radar to scan the snow and ice on the Jungfraujoch. Sometimes, scaling an icy peak is the only way for scientists to fully understand satellite data.

The federal government has plans to tax electric vehicles to secure funding for road infrastructure. However, a new levy could delay the switch to electromobility. Alessio Levis explains how this dilemma could be resolved.

The landslide in Brienz (GR) in 2023 kept Switzerland on tenterhooks for weeks. Researchers from ETH Zurich, WSL and SLF used a model to provide a highly accurate blind prediction of where the sliding mass would come to rest. ETH Professor Johan Gaume explains how the model works and where its limitations lie.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have teamed up with the food industry to produce a whole-fruit variety of chocolate. This helps increase the value creation of cocoa farming – and is healthier.

Renewable energies are not the main driver of biodiversity loss. It is rather the other way round: renewables can limit climate change in order to preserve biodiversity. Cyril Brunner contextualises the trade-offs from a scientific perspective.

Like forests, grassland provides numerous ecological, economic and social benefits. Researchers have investigated ways to maintain and improve these benefits in the Swiss canton of Solothurn.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a protein-based gel that breaks down alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract without harming the body. In the future, people who take the gel could reduce the harmful and intoxicating effects of alcohol.

Since 2014, the Center has collaborated with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Sustainable Agroecosystems Group to offer a three-​day course for ETH Zurich Master’s students at the FAO headquarters in Rome.

Plants with multiple sets of chromosomes have advantages over their relatives with a double set. But why they often start out infertile was only partially understood. Biologists at ETH Zurich have now discovered a new reason for the initial difficulties.

Natural forest regeneration is hailed as a cost-effective way to restore biodiversity and sequester carbon. However, the fragmentation of tropical forests has restricted the movement of large birds limiting their capacity to disperse seeds and restore healthy forests.

Our 45 members are full of ideas on how to drive change towards food and nutrition security, environmental health and social well-being for all in our world food system.

We are pleased to share our Annual Report 2023, which highlights our many research, education, and outreach activities focused on food system transformation.

Alumni Stories: Benjamin Gräub shares struggles and insights from his learning journey while developing a new app for farmers in Kenya in times of Covid, a project supported by a Center Ambassador Grant.

Over a week in March, NICE country teams and representatives from six cities in Rwanda, Kenya, and Bangladesh joined in peer-learning visits to Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland. The public was able to join in discussions with the consortium at the seminar ‘How do we build sustainable urban food systems?’

Researchers at ETH Zurich led by Robert Boes are developing specific solutions to optimise electricity production from Swiss hydropower plants. This will ensure that hydropower remains the backbone of Switzerland’s electricity supply in the future.

Environmental scientist Alice Pradel cultivates ice cores in the lab to investigate the transport and accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics. Her aim in doing so is to better understand material flows in the Arctic ice.

We can transition to pesticide-free agriculture without converting to organic farming. Robert Finger outlines the advantages and challenges involved.

Bioengineer Randall Platt engineers bacteria that can assess the state of our guts. It is hoped this non-invasive technique could eventually be used to develop more effective interventions against malnutrition among children in the Global South.

Sport and an interest in healthy eating took Martina Pfeiffer first to ETH Zurich and then to Swiss beverage producer Rivella. Her active lifestyle has always kept her at the top of her game.  

Recycling is an accepted formula for sustainable resource use, but in the case of plastic it can have serious side effects, says Helene Wiesinger – and uses the example of plastic flooring in Switzerland to illustrate the dilemma.

Christoph Schär is one of the Swiss climate scientists who have shaped high-resolution climate modelling. He is now retiring after more than 35 years at ETH Zurich. In this portrait, he explains why he himself never tires of researching climate change.

The cost of removing large quantities of CO₂ from the air will fall in the medium term, but not as much as previously hoped. This is the conclusion reached by ETH researchers on the basis of new calculations. Efforts to reduce carbon emissions should therefore continue at pace, says the research team.