Agroscope is the Swiss center of excellence for agricultural research, and is affiliated to the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG). Agroscope research covers the entire value chain of the agriculture and the food sector, to guarantee a competitive and multifunctional agricultural sector, high-quality food for a healthy diet, and a safe environment. Agroscope is mainly developing research in the following sectors: • Research and Development in the spheres of agriculture, nutrition and the environment; • Decision-Making Bases for public-authority legislation; • Legal Tasks as part of the statutory requirements in the service of agriculture and the general public; • Knowledge Exchange and Technology Transfer with stakeholders, the advisory sector, industry, science, the teaching sector and the public. Our organization is active in Plant Breeding, Plant Production, Plant Protection and Plant Products, Livestock, Feed and Products of Animal Origin, Food and Nutrition; Cropping Systems, Protection of Natural Resources, Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Engineering. With multiple sites across Switzerland, Agroscope has an organization that allows taking into account regional differences in the agri-environmental system.
Role in the Legume Generation project
Agroscope is mainly involved in genetics and breeding soybean varieties adapted to particular climatic conditions, in order to ensure yield stability. Swiss soybean varieties are for example generally early maturing and tolerant to cold during blooming. With the aim of adding more value to our varieties, we are also looking to improve interesting nutritional characteristics. A great deal of innovative has now been carried out on the processing nutrition quality and taste of soybean. The Swiss Agroscope partner will be mainly involved in Workpackage 1 (WP1) of the Legume Generation project associated with soybean. Our early and late germplasm, as well as our food-grade specialties, will be made available to the consortium as part of a European multi-location testing network. All soybean germplasm, contributed by different partners of the Legume Generation project, will be tested in Switzerland at our experimental station in Changins. Phenotyping, genome selection (GS) and genome-wide associated studies (GWAS will be performed for important agronomy and quality traits according to the needs and in coordination with other partners of the project.
