Lukas Pfiffner

Activity areas

• Promotion of beneficials and habitat management: Ecological diversification of organic production systems to improve particular system functions (e.g. natural pest controls)
  
• Effects of farming systems and ecological measures on small animal life
  
• Development of organic food production optimised for nature and landscape conservation, with particular emphasis on functional biodiversity and wild animal friendly agriculture

Training / professional career

• Since 2003: Project team leader with the pests and beneficials division of FiBL, Frick
  
• 2001-2002: Head of the biodiversity division of FiBL, Frick. Ecological enhancement of agricultural production systems for the promotion of biodiversity and specific functions (promotion of beneficial organisms / pest control). Evaluation of the environmental benefits of various arable farming systems
  
• 1995-2000: Project leader for various projects in the field of entomology and faunistics at FiBL, Oberwil/Frick. Test plot and on-farm experiments. Animal ecological evaluation of different arable farming methods and ecological compensation measures (beneficial arthropods, earthworm fauna).
  
• 1992-1994: Head of the plant protection and beneficial organisms division of FiBL, Oberwil. Pest control/entomology in annual arable crops and horticultural crops
  
• 1990-1992: Research scientist in the soil and plant nutrition division at FiBL in Oberwil. Work on soil-ecological and soil-faunistic issues
  
• 1989: Kantonale Zentralstelle für Weinbau (central viticultural office of the canton) in Salez. Head of the central viticultural office and teacher for fruit growing, viticulture and soil sciences ad interim at the LS Rheinhof (Rheinhof agricultural school)
  
• 1982-1988: Studies in agricultural sciences (plant production) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich

Membership in advisory bodies / other activities

• Member of the national forum for ecological compensation areas (Nationales Forum für ökologischen Ausgleich), a body advising the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (BUWAL), the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (BLW) and the Swiss Federal Office for Water and Geology (BWG)
  
• Member of the project management team of the "workshop for ecological compensation areas" (Werkstatt ökologischer Ausgleich) - a network of the Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture (FAL), LBL, Agrofutura and FiBL
  
• National working group on ecological compensation areas in arable farming (Nationale Arbeitsgrupe "Ökologischer Ausgleich im Ackerbau")
  
• Member of the board of Bund für Natur- und Vogelschutz association for nature and bird conservation of Baselland canton (BNV)
  
• Board member of the Umwelteinsatz Schweiz (SUS) foundation