NRP 73: Digital Innovations for Sustainable Agriculture

Latest research findings on the benefits of precision agriculture: To reduce negative impacts on our environment, such as biodiversity loss, we need to transform our farming and food systems. A first important step towards this is more efficient agricultural production, and the more targeted use of fertilizers. The digitization of agriculture can be an important building block in this regard.

The benefits of precision agriculture include both a lower environmental footprint and lower costs for Swiss farmers. Nevertheless, the technology is not yet widely used. Why this is so and what is needed to promote the use of such technologies was investigated in the project “Digital Innovations for Sustainable Agriculture” as part of the National Research Program 73 “Sustainable Economy” (NRP 73).

Interviewee:
Prof. Dr. Robert Finger, Agricultural Economics and Policy Group, ETH Zurich