Organic Production Systems for Global Food Security

Enlarged view: ZOMM field trial
Field experiment (India) for ZOMM research project
Logo Mercator Foundation Switzerland

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

cabbage

Project page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 472 KB)

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

chickens

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 92 KB)

Assessing the role of organic value chains in enhancing food system resilience

banana

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 218 KB)

Resilience of organic and conventional production systems to drought

field

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 241 KB)

Ecological intensification of organic rooibos cultivation in South Africa

Enlarged view: rooibos

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 203 KB)

Global Organic Agriculture: Challenges and opportunities

Enlarged view: rice

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 111 KB)

Nitrified Urine as Fertilizer: A trans-disciplinary approach to solutions-oriented community development

Enlarged view: nufsoc

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 424 KB)

Improving disease resistance of pea through selection at the plant-soil interface

Enlarged view: peas

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 247 KB)

Towards nutritional security through organic management of soil fertility in orange-fleshed sweet potato systems

Enlarged view: potato

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 376 KB)

Extensive grazing on subalpine pastures: Integrating biodiversity and the production of meat with special quality

Enlarged view: grazing

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 91 KB)

A comprehensive examination of nitrogen cycling and microbial communities within soil microenvironments in integrated organic farming systems in Switzerland

Enlarged view: soil

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 407 KB)

Zinc biofortification of wheat through organic matter management in sustainable agriculture

Enlarged view: wheat

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 701 KB)

Greenhouse gas emissions of dairy production systems based on longevity and zero-concentrate strategy as compared to conventional systems

Enlarged view: cow

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 488 KB)

Enlarged view: coffee

Managing trade-offs in coffee agroforests

Project Page    Download Factsheet (PDF, 895 KB)

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