As part of the EU research project MOVING, the ZHAW team examined the potential and challenges of the “mountain grain” value chain in the Grisons Alps. The aim was to explore how the region can strengthen its resilience to climate change and create new perspectives for agriculture.

The case study demonstrated that, despite challenging growing conditions, mountain grain can be a promising complement to the region’s dominant livestock farming. A key driver of success is a cooperative of around 90 farmers who work together under a regional organic label. This collaboration enables the marketing of high-quality grain products while also fostering knowledge exchange within the region.

Workshops and a Multi-Actor Platform helped identify core obstacles, including limited infrastructure (e.g., mills, storage facilities), climatic constraints, scarce land availability, and a lack of suitable crop varieties and skilled workers. At the same time, the findings highlighted that targeted policy support—through investment in infrastructure, training programs, and innovation—can significantly boost the development of this sustainable value chain.

The project also considered the perspective of young people. In youth workshops, many expressed concerns about limited future prospects, rising living costs, and a lack of regional identity. These insights underline the need for stronger measures to foster long-term engagement and innovation among the next generation.

Overall, the study showed that promoting sustainable, regionally rooted value chains such as mountain grain can contribute not only to environmental and economic stability but also to strengthening social cohesion in mountain areas.

Mountains cover 36% of Europe’s territory and have long played a crucial role in providing both public and private goods. Despite their ecological and socioeconomic importance, there had been a lack of up-to-date and comparable knowledge to support their sustainable development. This is where the European research project MOVING (MOuntain Valorisation through INterconnectedness and Green growth) came in. The project aimed to strengthen resilient and sustainable value chains in mountain areas and to develop new policy frameworks accordingly.

At the heart of MOVING was a participatory process that brought together value chain actors, stakeholders, and policy-makers to co-create solutions for regional development and climate adaptation.

The ZHAW team was responsible for the case study on mountain grain in the Grisons Alps. The region of Grisons is characterised by diverse agricultural activities – from alpine livestock farming and the cultivation of grapes and chestnuts in the south to arable farming in the northern Rhine valley. The case study focused on a cooperative value chain for organic mountain grain, supported by a regional origin label. This label connected traditional farming practices with modern marketing strategies and allowed around 90 farmers to distribute their products collaboratively and share knowledge through a local network. In addition, innovative projects based on cereals, such as regional craft beer production, were initiated during the project.