Strip cropping – New ways to control pests and diseases in organic farming

Climate change and society's need for sustainable agricultural production are exacerbating pest and disease pressure in crop production. Innovations are needed to ensure yield stability. In strip cropping, crops are grown as pure stands in strips next to each other. Due to the barrier effect and increased landscape heterogeneity, the infestation pressure of pests and diseases is reduced and beneficial organisms are promoted.

The aim of this project is to gather initial experience with strip cropping in organic farming under Swiss conditions. The focus lies on technical feasibility, crop choice, pest and disease pressure as well as economic appeal. In a co-creative approach including researchers, advisors and farmers, strip cropping will be tailored to Swiss needs. On-farm trials are established and scientifically monitored with surveys. Continuous exchange promotes joint learning and optimal implementation.

• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG)
• Stiftung Sur-la-Croix

• Dreiklang Foundation for Ecological Research and Education
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Support for Competence and Innovation Networks
• Other EU-Institutions
• Other EU-Institutions
• Cantons and municipalities
• Cantons and municipalities
• Swissaid
• Swissaid
• Other public institutions, Switzerland
• Other public institutions, Switzerland
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Support for Competence and Innovation Networks
• Dreiklang Foundation for Ecological Research and Education
• Foundation Edith Maryon
• Foundation Edith Maryon
• Other foundations
• Other foundations
• Other economic actors
• Other economic actors
• Non-profit associations / organisations
• Non-profit associations / organisations
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Plant Breeding
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Support for agricultural research
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Support for agricultural research
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Support for agricultural advice
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Support for agricultural advice
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Agricultural Resources Program
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Agricultural Resources Program
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Water Protection Program
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Water Protection Program
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Plant Breeding
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Agricultural Marketing
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Agricultural Marketing
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Preliminary Assessment of Innovative Projects
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Preliminary Assessment of Innovative Projects
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Research and Conservation Projects in Animal Breeding
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Research and Conservation Projects in Animal Breeding
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Innovative Projects in Sheep's Wool
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) – Innovative Projects in Sheep's Wool
• Further programmes

• Agroscope (in Changins), federal competence centre for agricultural research

• Krauss Maike (Department of Soil Sciences)

• Biderbost Stephanie (Department of Soil Sciences)
• Carrel Katrin (Department of Soil Sciences)
• Christen Mathias (Department of Soil Sciences)
• Dierauer Hansueli (Department of Soil Sciences)
• Gelencsér Tobias (Department of Soil Sciences)

Project lead

• Cultivation Technique Arable Crops (Department of Soil Sciences, FiBL Switzerland)