Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)

15/01/2026

International online conference: "Organic Export Vision: Ukraine 2026" 🌍
Despite ongoing challenges, Ukraine’s organic sector continues to operate, export and plan for growth. To explore what lies ahead, international traders, importers and partners are invited to join the online conference on 20 January 2026.
This international event will review the outcomes of 2025 and shape a shared vision for the development of Ukrainian organic exports in 2026.
Register now to better understand the outlook of Ukraine’s organic market and explore new cooperation opportunities.

📅 20 January 2026
🕙 9:00–13:30 CET
💻 Online (Zoom)

👉 More details and registration: https://pulse.ly/v705vglsh1
Participation is free of charge. Registration is mandatory.

The conference is organised by the State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” (EEPO, Ukraine), state project Diia·Business together with the Organic Initiative Public Association in partnership. It is supported by Switzerland within the Quality FOOD Trade Program implemented by FiBL.

14/01/2026

Summer School on Agrobiodiversity in Galicia – apply now

From 2 to 12 September 2026, Galicia (Spain) will host an international summer school on agrobiodiversity for students from all over Europe. Applications for one of the thirty spots are open until the end of February. The event is being organised by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), FiBL and the Interuniversity Research Centre for Atlantic Cultural Landscapes (CISPAC) in Santiago de Compostela.

https://pulse.ly/lcen5pqfh0

ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften CISPAC

13/01/2026

Sweet lupin is the superfood of the year 2026 🥳
Take a look at FiBL's comprehensive work on lupins! 🤓

- Breeding white lupins: https://www.fibl.org/en/themes/projectdatabase/projectitem/project/2056
- Lupin breeding and innovation for improved suitability for cultivation in Switzerland: https://www.fibl.org/en/themes/projectdatabase/projectitem/project/2924
- Alkaloid monitoring in white lupins: https://www.fibl.org/en/themes/projectdatabase/projectitem/project/2512
- Promotion of sweet lupins and flat peas as local protein sources: https://www.fibl.org/en/themes/projectdatabase/projectitem/project/2716
- Use and valorisation of neglected crops: DIVINFOOD
- Transforming organic seed systems: LiveSeeding

- Latest FiBL study on the topic: https://3crbio.com/blog/pace-new-sweetness-qtl-white-lupin/
- More about Biovision Foundation's Superfood 2026: https://www.biovision.ch/superfood/

12/01/2026

Forgotten crops hold the key to sustainable food systems 🌍🌾
Just three staples - wheat, rice, and maize - supply nearly half of the world’s calories. Neglected and Underutilised Species (NUS) have the power to reshape our food systems for the better, from boosting food security to restoring agrobiodiversity and strengthening climate resilience.
Through the CROPS4HD project, FiBL, SWISSAID, and AFSA are working across five countries, including Tanzania, to revive NUS and promote agroecology at both producer and consumer levels—fostering nutritious diets and a resilient future for smallholder farmers.🌱

Watch our video to learn how NUS are driving real change in Tanzania: https://pulse.ly/m5aqr61s0s
Download our brochure “Unlocking the power of forgotten crops”: https://pulse.ly/u8enjcbtcl
Learn more about the project: https://pulse.ly/5hn1uvjvvc

The CROPS4HD project is funded by Swiss Development & Cooperation and the European Commission.

27/12/2025

New FiBL guide supports MAP producers in Kosovo to build soil fertility and climate resilience

FiBL has released a new technical publication in three languages on cover crops in medicinal and aromatic plant production for trainers and farmers Kosovo. The publication is one in a series of practical guides that are developed within the EREA programme in Kosovo.

FiBL has released a new technical publication in three languages on cover crops in medicinal and aromatic plant production for trainers and farmers Kosovo. The publication is one in a series of practical guides that are developed within the EREA programme in Kosovo.

26/12/2025

Biocontrol in organic: managing plant health with complementary practices

In December 2025, a multi-stakeholder event took place at the European Parliament to discuss the specific needs of biocontrol in organic farming. Speakers stressed the need for regulatory adjustments to better support innovation and ecosystem-based plant-health strategies, with broad support for streamlined, science-based pathways to make biocontrol a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture in Europe. FiBL was one of the organisers of the event.

In December 2025, a multi-stakeholder event took place at the European Parliament to discuss the specific needs of biocontrol in organic farming. Speakers stressed the need for regulatory adjustments to better support innovation and ecosystem-based plant-health strategies, with broad support for str...

25/12/2025

Boosting organic greenhouse production: project successfully kicked off

BIOGREENET is a European initiative dedicated to strengthening organic greenhouse production by bridging knowledge gaps, fostering innovation, and empowering producers and advisors. The 16 partners – including FiBL, producers’ organizations, advisory services and other research organizations – met at the kick-off meeting on 4–5 December 2025 in Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany, to plan the first steps of this Horizon Europe-funded initiative.

BIOGREENET is a European initiative dedicated to strengthening organic greenhouse production by bridging knowledge gaps, fostering innovation, and empowering producers and advisors. The 16 partners – including FiBL, producers’ organizations, advisory services and other research organizations –...

24/12/2025

"Farmers created scenarios for how the community would respond to water scarcity"

In this interview, Julia Hauri reports on the extent to which social inequalities in India characterise access to water - and why community-based solutions could be crucial to securing the future of agriculture in regions such as the Nimar Valley. She studied agricultural sciences at ETH Zurich and completed her Master's thesis on adapting to groundwater issues as part of the FiBL long-term research project SysCom (Farming Systems Comparison in the Tropics). She spent three months in the Nimar Valley in India.

In this interview, Julia Hauri reports on the extent to which social inequalities in India characterise access to water - and why community-based solutions could be crucial to securing the future of agriculture in regions such as the Nimar Valley. She studied agricultural sciences at ETH Zurich and....

23/12/2025

Voices on climate: "We have no choice but to work with complexity"

Dayana Andrade and Felipe Pasini are our next "Voices on climate." Both have many years of experience with syntropic agriculture – in practice, research, and knowledge transfer. FiBL is also exploring the potential of this type of agriculture and is working with the two experts, among others.

https://pulse.ly/qwl45o4r9d

23/12/2025

FiBL scientist appointed to the European Commission’s Expert Group on Nature Credits

FiBL scientist Sarah Oberländer has been appointed to the European Commission’s new Expert Group on Nature Credits, which started its work in early December. Her expertise in biodiversity and agricultural practice will help shape EU methods for valuing and rewarding nature.

FiBL scientist Sarah Oberländer has been appointed to the European Commission’s new Expert Group on Nature Credits, which starts its work today. Her expertise in biodiversity and agricultural practice will help shape EU methods for valuing and rewarding nature.

23/12/2025

Regenerative and conservation agriculture: researchers and farmers test what works

Researchers from FiBL and partner organisations are embarking on a European project to discover how regenerative and conservation agriculture could help reverse soil degradation. Working directly with farmers, the Trails4Soil project, co-funded by the EU and Swiss Confederation, will provide evidence from 100 sites across Europe on regenerative and conservation agriculture’s impacts - not only on soil health, but also on crop yield, farm income and farmer wellbeing. The project team comprises 22 partner organisations and met in autumn 2025 for the kick-off meeting in Córdoba, Spain.
https://pulse.ly/tizm5ayiiu

BFH | HESB - Hochschule für Agrar-, Forst- und Lebensmittelwissenschaften HAFL | Haute école des sciences agronomiques, forestières et alimentaires HAFL

Researchers from FiBL and partner organisations are embarking on a European project to discover how regenerative and conservation agriculture could help reverse soil degradation. Working directly with farmers, the TRAILS4SOIL project, co-funded by the EU and Swiss Confederation, will provide evidenc...

16/12/2025