Organic Production Systems for Global Food Security
The Mercator Research Program on Organic Production Systems, funded by the Mercator Foundation Switzerland, supports research, education, and outreach that explores the role and potential of organic production systems (certified or non-certified) to contribute to global food security.
The program supported doctoral research projects supervised by WFSC members, in collaboration with partners from different disciplines. The ten-year program supported a total of 14 doctoral research projects (16 students) since 2012, with 3.7 million Swiss Francs distributed.
Funded Projects
Biological control of soilborne insect pests using combinations of pseudomonads, nematodes, and fungi
Project page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 472 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Soldier Fly larvae reared on various substrates as novel protein source: Utility and constraints of use in the nutrition of organic laying hens and broilers
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 92 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Assessing the role of organic value chains in enhancing food system resilience
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 218 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Resilience of organic and conventional production systems to drought
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 241 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Ecological intensification of organic rooibos cultivation in South Africa
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 203 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Global Organic Agriculture: Challenges and opportunities
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 111 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Nitrified Urine as Fertilizer: A trans-disciplinary approach to solutions-oriented community development
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 424 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Improving disease resistance of pea through selection at the plant-soil interface
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 247 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Towards nutritional security through organic management of soil fertility in orange-fleshed sweet potato systems
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 376 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Extensive grazing on subalpine pastures: Integrating biodiversity and the production of meat with special quality
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 91 KB)vertical_align_bottom
A comprehensive examination of nitrogen cycling and microbial communities within soil microenvironments in integrated organic farming systems in Switzerland
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 407 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Zinc biofortification of wheat through organic matter management in sustainable agriculture
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 701 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Greenhouse gas emissions of dairy production systems based on longevity and zero-concentrate strategy as compared to conventional systems
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 488 KB)vertical_align_bottom
Managing trade-offs in coffee agroforests
Project Page DownloadFactsheet (PDF, 895 KB)vertical_align_bottom