Supporting exchange for agroecological transformation processes in India

On 19 May 2025, a delegation from Indian ministries and universities arrived at ETH Zurich to learn more about the World Food System Center and ongoing collaboration focused on transformation of the agricultural and food system among the Center’s members.

The day in Zurich was the group’s first stop in its tour of Switzerland and Germany. The visit was organized by the German Agency for International Cooperation project Support to Agroecological Transformation Processes in India. The informational trip was intended to provide insights into ecological and climate-friendly agriculture with a special focus on research for farmers and farming.

The guests were welcomed in the main building and exchanged with Center Executive Director Martijn Sonnevelt on current research and activities supported by the Center within its programs and education courses. He focused on how Center members collaborate with strategically relevant partners across disciplines and sectors (industry, agriculture, and policymaking) to holistically address complex research challenges. He also mentioned the work of the ETH Zurich Institute of Agricultural Sciences. A lively discussion then occurred, with many of the visitors sharing their own experiences and ideas.

The Agroecological Transitions Group then provided a scientific Input focused on social aspects of agroecology creating resilience and participatory seed breeding in Switzerland. Professor Johanna Jacobi as well as researchers Sebastian Kussmann, Sisaynesh Mekonnen, Julia Hauri, and Akanksha Singh (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)) shared their work. Professor Johan Six then introduced the work of the Sustainable Agroecosystems Group, specifically highlighting the RUNRES: Rural-Urban Nexus: Establishing a Nutrient Loop to Improve City Region Food System Resilience and the external page CANALLS: Central and Eastern Africa Agroecology Living Labs projects.

The delegation then took a short ride to the ETH Plant Science Research Station, located outside of Zurich. The fields were busy, and the delegation got a great tour of current work and equipment in the fields and greenhouses from Simone Nanzer, Coordiantor of the Research Station. They also met researchers from the Crop Science Group, working at the trial fields full of pea and wheat plants. Norbert Kirchgessner explained the field phenotyping platform (FIP), suspended above the field to measure plant growth. The external page Caterra robot was also out, giving a special opportunity to ask questions to this ETH startup equipped to eliminate weeds in a precise, automated manner.

The group then moved into the external page Agrovet-Strickhof dairy barn to learn more about the current research in animal nutrition and welfare. Deputy Head of Research Hans-Reudi Wettstein answered questions about Swiss dairy practices as well as animal feeding studies.

We thank the delegation for their engaging discussions, and we hope the visit will foster future collaborations with Indian universities and ministries. And thanks to the German Agency for International Cooperation for making this visit possible.