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Open Day at FiBL – Finding intelligent solutions for organic farming

Media release

Alfred Schädeli with a piece of fresh cheese surrounded by people.

The first cheese from the FiBL farm was cut. The dairy cows were given 95 percent of farm fodder. (Photo: Thomas Alföldi, FiBL)

Matthias Klaiss is talking to visitors at his stand.

Domestic animal feedstuff, a healthy soil and more yield on the same area: mixed crops of grains and beans or peas. (Photo: Anna Struth, FiBL)

Boy looking through a microscope.

It is child's play to tell the difference between Drosophila suzukii – the soft fruit pest – and the common vinegar fly. (Photo: Anna Struth, FiBL)

Andi Häseli guiding a tour through the cherry orchard.

Experts guide through organic fruit orchards. (Photo: Anna Struth, FiBL)

Henryk Luka explains functional agrobiodiversity.

Wild flowers in between crops attract beneficial insects. (Photo: Anna Struth, FiBL)

Michael Scheifele demonstrates biochar: Producing charcoal that is beneficial for the soil while using the waste heat to boil.

Biochar: Producing charcoal that is beneficial for the soil while using the waste heat to boil. (Photo: Anna Struth, FiBL)

On 26 June 2016, around 5000 people were invited to gain an insight into the work of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL in Frick.

(Frick, 26 June 2016) Organic farmers presented their products on the farmers’ market, an organic catering service provided the guests with culinary delights, and the researchers of FiBL demonstrated their work at 13 stands, including how to make tea by burning wood chippings to charcoal. If spread out in the garden, the charcoal helps to filter CO2 out of the atmosphere and sequestrate it in the soil.

FiBL suggests ways to reduce imports of soya for animal fodder in Switzerland – which is currently at 89 % and often causes destruction of rain forests and a high fuel consumption. Additionally, FiBL is carrying out research on breeding animals in a way to reduce their need for concentrate feedstuffs. Moreover, local fodder like alfalfa meal or peas are good possibilities to reduce soya imports. In the future, even protein made from larvae of the black soldier fly, which feeds on food waste, might serve as a replacement.

Martin Ott, the President of the Foundation Council of FiBL, said, "For over 40 years, FiBL has been carrying out research on methods for the improvement of soil fertility, the increase of plant biodiversity on farms and support of animal health. Today, we are excited to demonstrate what research and agriculture do for consumers."

Further information

FiBL contact

Franziska Hämmerli, FiBL Switzerland

Links

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Media release in Chinese (858.7 KB)
Media release in Chinese (1.3 MB)