Switzerland faces a significant demand for new, robust plant varieties with stable yields to promote sustainable agriculture, particularly in light of challenges such as climate change and emerging plant diseases. To enhance plant breeding and foster innovation in the country, organizations including FiBL, Agroscope, ETH Zurich, Sativa Rheinau AG, and Delley Samen und Pflanzen AG have launched the Swiss Plant Breeding Center (SPBC) with support from the Federal Office for Agriculture (OFAG).
On October 11, 2024, a non-profit support association for the SPBC was founded at FiBL in Frick, aimed at facilitating large-scale operations of the center, according to a press release. The organization comprises active members including Swiss breeders, researchers, and stakeholders from the downstream value chain involved in seed production, processing, and trade. During the inaugural meeting, many stakeholders engaged in plant breeding in Switzerland were welcomed, establishing a broad foundation for the association. The newly elected board includes representatives from private and public plant breeding as well as plant breeding research. Founding members include Monika Messmer from FiBL (president), Bruno Studer from ETH Zurich, Karl-Heinz Camp from Delley Samen und Pflanzen AG, Amadeus Zschunke from Sativa Rheinau AG, and Roland Peter from Agroscope.
Monika Messmer, president of the association, stated, “The SPBC enhances the efficiency of both public and private plant breeding in Switzerland, allowing for quicker integration of new techniques and innovations into breeding programs.”
The SPBC supports Swiss private and public breeding programs by employing new techniques and research-derived innovations, ultimately boosting the efficiency of plant breeding efforts across the country.
