Regional Food Systems

We initiate and support applied projects for a participatory transformation towards more resilient food systems. Regional and circular food strategies enable local value creation, resource-conserving production and resilient societies - for example in Swiss mountain regions.

We support the development of alternative food networks and new collaborations. Cooperation with the local population and actors from politics, administration and practice is central to the joint design of regional food systems. Locally adapted solutions are implemented and investigated using participatory methods.

reference projects: Ernährungsstrategien für Alle - Partizipation und Transformation in kleineren Städten, PRE Wädenswil

Sustainable Value Chains and Consumption

Our aim is to promote value chains that contribute to local and global sustainable development. We identify challenges and develop innovative measures in collaboration with practitioners. Our approaches include solutions ranging from resource-conserving production to supporting conscious consumption decisions through labels.
We focus on promoting short value chains, fair trade relations, closing cycles and creating transparency along the entire value chain.

reference projects: MOVING - Mountain Valorization through Interconectedness and Green Growth, Neuentwicklung von labelinfo.ch

Agriculture und Climate Change

Agriculture is not only severely affected by the effects of climate change, but also causes high greenhouse gas emissions itself.

Together with partners from research and practice, we are looking for solutions to adapt to climate change and protect the climate. For example, we are evaluating the current and future suitability of niche crops for cultivation or developing future scenarios for site-adapted production and sustainable nutrition. The aim is a diversified, resilient agricultural and food system in accordance with the principles of agroecology.

reference projects: Klimawandelauswirkungen im Pfefferanbau - eine globale Eignungsanalyse, Offensvie Spezialkulturen

Ernährungsstrategien für alle – Partizipation und Transformation in kleineren Städten

How can sustainable food systems be promoted in smaller municipalities in order to reduce the environmental impact and strengthen local value creation?

The project investigates the potential of food strategies for the transformation towards more sustainable local food systems in smaller Swiss municipalities.

PRE Wädenswil

The Regional Development Project (PRE) Wädenswil examines how resource-conserving and sustainable agriculture can be promoted in Wädenswil and how cooperation between agriculture, processing, consumption and research can be strengthened. The aim is to strengthen independence from national sales channels and value creation in the region.

MOVING - Mountain Valorization through Interconnectedness and Green Growth

Europe's mountain regions are facing major challenges and changes. As part of the EU project MOVING, which involves 16 partner institutions from 23 countries, we are investigating in the Grisons mountains which value chains are particularly resilient and how we can learn from regional innovations in a sustainable way.

Summer Schools

Students of ZHAW and other universities have the chance to participate in one of our international summer schools.

• Agrobiodiversity Summer School
• International Virtual Course

e-learning courses

Our freely available-learning courses are for anyone interested in sustainable food value chains.

• Designing Sustainable Food Systems
• Labels & Standards für Nachhaltigkeit

Foodscape

For a younger audience we have developed the online game Foodscape . The game teaches the connections between nutrition, a healthy lifestyle and the use of resources in a playful way.