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Plant Breeding

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Plant breeding makes an essential contribution to the ecological intensification of organic farming and to climate change adaptation.

Important target traits in organic farming include yield stability, efficient use of water and nutrients, competitive ability towards weeds, pest and disease tolerance as well as tolerance of variable environmental factors.

The concept of organic breeding is based on strengthening the resilience of the system as a whole. The focus of the Plant Breeding team at FiBL Switzerland is therefore on breeding varieties in and for complex organic systems as driver of functional agrobiodiversity in farming systems.

In addition to the main crop species, for which breeding work is also being conducted by commercial operators, the group’s breeding work focuses on neglected crop species, especially grain legumes that produce high-quality protein for food and feed, and contribute to sustainable cropping systems by biological nitrogen fixation.

Main areas of work:

  • Scientific, methodical and organisational support on breeding and seed production for organic breeders
  • Awareness raising about the importance of organic breeding among food processors, traders and consumers
  • Breeding research of traits that are especially important in organic farming (seed - and soil-borne diseases)
  • Research in breeding for mixed cropping systems (pea - barley)
  • Basic research in breeding for beneficial plant-microbe interactions (pea - soil fatigue)
  • Pre-breeding of neglected legume crops for new value chains (white lupin)
  • Cultivar testing under organic conditions
  • Support for market introduction of varieties adapted for cultivation in organic farming
  • Participatory breeding and cultivar evaluation (participatory cotton breeding in India)
  • Promotion of seed sovereignty (supporting farmer seeds systems of neglected crop species for healthier diets in Africa and India)

Further information

Plant breeding

Contact

Monika Messmer

Projects

StatusFiBLTitleStartEnd
ongoing CH Cowpea – an underutilised and drought-resistant grain legume for diverse nutrition and climate-friendly agriculture in Switzerland 01.01.2024 31.01.2026
ongoing CH Fundamentals of the selection of enhanced symbiotic nitrogen fixation in pea breeding (PiSym) 01.01.2024 31.01.2026
ongoing CH Validation of microbiome-mediated resistance of pea to soil fatigue under field conditions (VaMiBO) 01.01.2024 31.12.2024
ongoing CH LupiSweet – Alkaloid monitoring in white lupin (LupiSweet) 01.01.2024 31.12.2027
ongoing CH Benefits of organic breeding: taking stock and raising awareness (benefits.biobreeding) 01.11.2023 31.10.2026
ongoing CH EU Organic Farming Regulation vs. Bio Suisse legislations 01.11.2023 31.12.2025
ongoing CH Bioinformatics Server for Big Data (BSBD) 01.01.2023 31.12.2024
ongoing CH Developing Intercropping for agrifood Value chains and Ecosystem Services delivery in Europe and Southern countries (IntercropValuES) 01.11.2022 31.10.2026
ongoing DECHEU Organic seed and plant breeding to accelerate sustainable and diverse food systems in Europe (LiveSeeding) 01.10.2022 30.09.2026
ongoing CH Root2Res: Root phenotyping and genetic improvement for rotational crops resilient to environmental change (EU Root2Res) 01.09.2022 31.08.2027
ongoing CH Co-constructing interactive short and mid-tier food chains to value agrobiodiversity in healthy plant- based food (DIVINFOOD) 01.03.2022 28.02.2027
completed CH Microbiome Lighthouse Project 01.01.2022 31.12.2023
ongoing CH Consumption of Resilient Orphan Crops & Products for Healthier Diets (CROPS4HD) 01.07.2021
ongoing CH Microbiome Theme Coordination 01.04.2021 31.03.2024
ongoing CH EVAluation of Soybean varieties for low Input and Organic productioN under stressed conditions (EVASION) 01.03.2021 31.03.2025
ongoing CH Breeding white lupin for resistance & quality for innovative Swiss food from sustainable, regional production (LUPINNO SUISSE) 01.03.2021 28.02.2025
completed CH Blue and white lupin (Lupin bleu et lupin blanc) 01.01.2021 31.12.2021
ongoing CH Breeding to establish Swiss peas in agriculture and human nutrition (ZESELE) 01.10.2020 30.09.2024
ongoing CH Plant microbiome recruitment for superior agricultural systems (AGRIBIOME) 01.04.2020 31.03.2024
completed CH PROMISE – Sustainable protein supply with species mixtures in Switzerland – focus on pea and lentil (PROMISE) 01.02.2020 31.01.2024
completed CH PGREL project "Use of gene resources in apples for organic farming II" (PGREL-Nutzungsprojekt) 01.01.2020 31.12.2023
completed CH Cultivar testing and optimizing the cultivation of white and narrow-leafed lupin 01.01.2020 31.12.2023
completed CHEU Engagement of the organic value chain to support Organic Breeding in Europe (ENGAGEMENT.BIOBREEDING EUROPE) 01.09.2019 31.08.2022
ongoing CH Innovationen in der Sortenprüfung in Europa zur Förderung der Einführung neuer Sorten, die besser an verschiedene biotische und abiotische Stressbedingungen und an nachhaltigere Anbaumethoden angepasst sind (INVITE) 01.07.2019 30.06.2024
completed CH Seeding the Green Future: Breeding for Securing Organic Cotton & Genetic Diversity Phase II (2018-2022) (SGF) 01.01.2018 30.06.2022
completed CH Use of functional agro-biodiversity to improve ecosystem services in vineyards 01.01.2018 31.12.2021
completed CHDE LIVESEED - Improve performance of organic agriculture by boosting organic seed and plant breeding efforts across Europe (LIVESEED) 01.06.2017 30.09.2021
completed CH ReMIX - Redesigning European cropping systems based on species MIXtures (ReMIX) 01.05.2017 30.04.2021
completed CH Seeding the Green Future: Breeding for Securing Organic Cotton & Genetic Diversity Phase I (Indian Cotton Season 2017/18) (SGF) 01.01.2017 31.03.2018
completed CH Development and technical implementation of modern seed technologies (cleaning, thermal seed treatment, priming, coating with microorganisms) (Saatguttechnologie) 01.10.2016 30.04.2021
completed CH Improvement of population breeding of open-pollinated broccoli as a replacement for cell-fusion based CMS hybrids (Brokkoli Züchtung) 01.10.2016 30.04.2021
completed CH Development of selection systems and participatory breeding for weed suppression or tolerance of Swiss soya (Soybean Breeding) 01.10.2016 30.04.2021
completed CH Improving disease resistance of peas through selection at the plant-soil interface (resPEAct) 01.06.2016 31.12.2020
completed CH PGREL project "Use of gene resources in apples for organic farming" (Nutzung von Apfel-Genressourcen für den Bio-Anbau) 01.01.2016 29.02.2020
completed CH Organic soya in Switzerland – Optimising the Swiss production chain from seeds to the final product (B3S) 01.01.2016 31.03.2019
completed CH Embedding crop diversity and networking for local high quality food systems (DIVERSIFOOD) 01.03.2015 28.02.2019
completed CH Enhancment of the organic small fruit production 01.01.2015 31.12.2018
completed CH Testing of sweet and sour cherry and plum cultivars for organic growing 01.01.2015 31.12.2018
completed CHDE Support for organic plant breeding research (Support Pflanzenzüchtung) 01.10.2014 30.09.2019
completed CH Breeding research on anthracnose tolerance and intercropping of lupin 01.01.2014 31.12.2023
completed CH An integrated approach to diversify the genetic base, improve stress resistance, agronomic management and nutritional/processing quality of minor cereal crops for human nutrition in Europe (HEALTHYMINORCEREALS) 01.09.2013 31.08.2018
completed CH Legumes and biodiversity: nature compatible concepts for growing protein crops 01.04.2013 30.06.2014
completed CH Coordinating Organic Plant Breeding Activities for Diversity (COBRA) 01.03.2013 28.02.2016
ongoing CH Decentralised farmers participatory identification and selection of cotton cultivars suitable to organic and Low-Input conditions in India (Green Cotton) 01.01.2013
completed CH Innovative strategies for copper-free low input and organic farming systems (CO-FREE) 01.01.2012 30.06.2016
completed CH Cotton Cultivar Evaluation for organic and low input farming in India (CCE) 01.06.2011 30.05.2017
ongoing CH European Consortium for Organic Plant Breeding (ECO-PB) 20.04.2011
completed CH Development of maize cultivars for organic agriculture – study of flower biology to optimize development of open pollinated populations 01.04.2011 31.03.2014
completed CH Expansion of soybean cultivation in Germany through breeding, agronomic optimization and processing technology; WP: Breeding for improved soybean-Bradyrhizobia symbiosis and N fixation under cool growing conditions (SOYA) 01.01.2011 31.12.2013
completed CH Influence of cropping system and cultivar on wheat quality (HPTLC Weizen) 01.01.2010 31.12.2012
completed CH Chances and potentials of various plant breeding techniques for organic farming (Züchtungsmethoden für den Ökolandbau) 01.01.2010 31.10.2011
completed CH Overview of seed and plant breeding activities of Swiss organisations in developing countries with special focus on organic and low input farming 01.05.2009 31.12.2010
completed CH Improving nutrient efficiency in major European food, feed and biofuel crops to reduce the negative environmental impact of crop production: Genotype x Management Interaction (NUE-CROPS) 01.05.2009 30.04.2014
completed CH Importance of selection environment on breeding gain 01.01.2009 31.12.2009
ongoing CH Coordination of plant breeding and variety testing for organic farming in Switzerland (Pflanzenzüchtung & Sortenprüfung – CH) 01.01.2009
completed CH Enhancement of natural enemies in oilseed rape: Effects of landscape diversity and conservation biological control on rape pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus) 01.01.2007 31.12.2007
completed CH Sicherstellung von biologischem Saat- und Pflanzgut: Verbesserung der Saat- und Pflanzgutgesundheit im Biogemüsebau (Saatgutgesundheit) 01.05.2006 01.05.2009
completed CH Increasing Fruit consumption through a trans disciplinary approach leading to High quality produce from environmentally safe, sustainable methods (ISAFRUIT) 01.01.2006 30.09.2010
completed CH Potential and Limits of Pesticide Free Apple Growing by a Self-Regulating Orchard Set-Up (SFS) 01.01.2005 31.12.2016
completed CH Saatgut Pathologie: Sicherstellung von biologischem Saat- und Pflanzgut: Verbesserung der Saat- und Pflanzgutgesundheit im Biogemüsebau 01.01.2003 31.12.2006
completed CH Beschreibung, Nutzung und Bekanntmachung alter Kartoffelsorten 01.01.2002 31.12.2010
completed CH Sortenteam zur Markt- Einführung bio-tauglicher Apfelsorten 30.11.1999 30.11.1999
ongoing CH Testing of pit fruit cultivars for organic growing 01.10.1994
ongoing CH Gemüse-, Beeren- und Kernobstsortenlisten (jährliche Aktualisierung der empfohlenen Sorten, in Zusammenarbeit mit Produzenten und Handel)
ongoing CH Systematische sensorische Prüfung zur Optimierung der Sortenwahl und des Qualitätshandlings (Entwicklung Datenbank)
ongoing CH Systematische sensorische Prüfung zur Optimierung der Sortenwahl und des Qualitätshandlings, Rebbau (Entwicklung Datenbank) (Sortenprüfung Weinbau)

Team

Group Plant Breeding
Arncken-Karutz Christine
Lupin breeding, breeding research
+41 (0)62 865-7237
Ferrari Leone
Participatory breeding, cultivar testing in Africa
+41 (0)62 865-1739
Gfeller Valentin
Microbiome theme coordinationPlant breeding, microbiome
+41 (0)62 865-7214
Lazzaro Mariateresa
Co-leader of the Group Plant Breedingbreeding research of lupins, marker-assisted breeding, on-farm research
+41 (0)62 865-7294
Messmer Monika
Member of the Management BoardCo-head of the Department of Crop Sciencesad interimCo-leader of the Group Plant Breedingbreeding research, microbiome-assisted breeding, participatory breeding, organic seed
+41 (0)62 865-0443
Patyi András
Molecular breeding, marker assisted selection in white lupin
+41 (0)62 865-5031
Riar Rajwinder
Participatory breeding, farmers' seed systems
+41 (0)62 865-7287
Schneider Michael
Quantitative genetics, bioinformatics
+41 (0)62 510-5303
Tröber Florian
Scientific assistance in research & infrastructure, research in arable farming
+41 (0)62 510-5313
Vonzun Seraina
Breeding for mixed cropping, resistance breeding
+41 (0)62 865-0490