Agroscope is the Swiss centre of excellence for agricultural research, and is affiliated with the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG). Agroscope makes an important contribution to a sustainable agriculture and food sector as well as to an intact environment, thereby contributing to an improved quality of life. Agroscope researches along the entire value chain of the agriculture and the food sector. Its goals are a competitive and multifunctional agricultural sector, high-quality food for a healthy diet, and an intact environment. In pursuing these aims, the research institute gears itself to the needs of its service recipients.
In the IPMorama project, Agroscope will take part in the validation trials for the IPM strategies developed in the first work packages for wheat rust. Specifically, Agroscope will set up field trials in Switzerland, which will include variety mixtures, their solo components, and reference varieties. Epidemic development as well as yield will be assessed. Agroscope will also investigate the interaction between disease severity and abiotic stress factors in order to improve the vulnerability maps under different environmental conditions. Finally, Agroscope will participate in the thinking process aiming at adapting VCU protocols for variety mixtures.