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, 

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 Interconnectedness and Green Growth

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.

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.

Farmers' Happiness Index in Sri Lanka und Indien mit Kaffee- und Teekleinbauern 

In this project, we are developing a “Farmers' Happiness” index to investigate the well-being of coffee and tea farmers in Sri Lanka and India and to identify influencing factors. The index will help to develop strategies to promote sustainable agriculture in different contexts.

ZirkuLAr, alles klar!

Circular thinking is a means to more sustainable systems. In this project, we are developing a serious game and supplementary teaching material for use in basic agricultural education. The game offers learners a positive and abordable introduction to circular economy in the agri-food system. The supplementary teaching material serves to integrate, deepen and reflect on the concepts developed in the game.

BSc Natural Resource Sciences

• Ernährungssysteme
• Produzierende Stadt
• Landwirtschaft im Wandel
• Nachhaltigkeitsmonitoring
• Projektmanagement

MSc in Environment and Natural Resources

•  Agroecology and Food Systems
• Agriculture for the Future
• Natural Resource Management in Emerging Economies
• Agrobiodiversity Summer School

MSc in Circular Economy Management

• Food Systems and Natural Resources

Summer School

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

• Agrobiodiversity Summer School

E-learning courses

Our free e-learning courses are aimed at anyone who is interested in sustainable food systems and wants to contribute to change.

• Get to the e-learning courses

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.