News

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.

Vacant land, community gardens and public parks are key resources for liveable cities. Fritz Kleinschroth calls on urban planners to focus on giving nature more space and on granting equitable access to green spaces.

Researchers have found genes in the reproductive organs of bulls that influence fertility. The findings can be transferred to humans, as these genes are also present in men.

Achim Walter believes increased cultivation of legumes would bring major benefits. But how to persuade farmers in Switzerland to make the switch?

Two years ago, Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine. One direct consequence of the conflict is the destruction of buildings and infrastructure. Now an exhibition in the ETH Main Building entitled “ETH with Ukraine” is showing how buildings, facilities and the environment in Ukraine can be protected or restored.

A global study shows that the world’s groundwater resources are dwindling: levels are falling sharply worldwide, and the decline has accelerated in the 21st century. Nevertheless, there is still reason for hope.

Alumni Stories: Future Food Fellow Joan Oñate Narciso shares how her work on kabog millet with communities in Cebu, Philippines has left a lasting impression on her life.

As the RUNRES project enters its second phase of developing and now upscaling innovations for circular economies in the rural-urban nexus, private-public-partnerships will continue to play an important role.

New ways to measure nitrous oxide emissions from soils as well as detect invasive pests in vineyards are the foci of two new interdisciplinary projects starting in 2024. Both projects are funded by the Center’s Smart Sustainable Farming Research Program.

Updates from the Novel Protein for Food and Feed Flagship Project include the development of “calamari” rings made from microalgae and mung bean protein as well as a study on Singaporean consumers’ acceptance of microalgae-based foods.

The Center announces two new projects starting in 2024 focused on understanding how different crop rotation practices affect water and nitrogen balances as well as production. Both projects are funded by the Improving Sustainability of Agricultural and Food Systems across Key Environmental Metrics Research Program.  

Three new projects supported by the Future Food Initiative focus on various topics of health and nutrition. Adipose tissue expandability and probiotic bacteria functional ability will be investigated as well as new innovations for processing plant proteins.

More and more people are afraid of climate change. For Cyril Brunner, this also has to do with how we talk about climate. We should focus less on problems and instead spend more time discussing solutions, suggests the climate researcher at the start of the year.

Craig Walton is the first NOMIS Fellow at the Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life at ETH Zurich. With an unconventional idea, he wants to find out the conditions under which life originated on Earth.

Snow measurement has never been so fast and accurate: ETH Zurich researchers have developed an artificial intelligence capable of determining snow depth across Switzerland using satellite images.

Samuel Levy and Lorenz Allemann have won this year's SFIAR Award. Both researchers focussed their award-winning research work on the Amazon region. Congratulations!  

From the giant blue whale to minuscule microbes, all creatures on this earth continuously shed traces of their DNA. These clues help researchers to determine the degree of biological diversity.

At the recent World Food Forum at the FAO in Rome, a delegation from ETH Zurich interacted and exchanged with leaders and youth from around the world.

Food Day @ETH brought more than 200 people with different backgrounds together to discuss food system transformation. The networking poster session gave young scientists a stage to present their innovative research on food system topics.

People living on the in low-lying coastal areas will be at even greater risk from cyclones in the future. Natural ecosystems offer protection, but this protection has decreased in recent years and is expected to continue to decline. This is a finding of a model study by an international team of researchers led by ETH Zurich.