Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)

08/09/2026

Portrait number 6 in our series FiBL Women 💪 in Agriculture!

Today with Anet Spengler Neff, FiBL Department co-head and Group co-leader.

Her message ✉️

“From day one, I’ve been fascinated by farming, particularly alpine farming. I have the utmost respect for all farmers around the world because the work is so important and you can only do it if you’re a well-rounded person.
Every day, I think to myself how lucky I am to be a farmer too. With this, we’re never alone!”

Her own animals 🐑

“I didn’t grow up on a farm. I studied livestock science. Alongside my studies, I worked on farms and in the alpine pastures with cows and goats. Organic farming was very important to me right from the start.
Today, I keep a flock of Engadine sheep comprising 17 ewes. I get my hay from my brother. The pastures are on building plots. I don’t own any land myself.”

Recognising one’s own competence 🎓

After my A-levels, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I went into the Swiss mountains to think about my future. While I was there, I visited a farmer who invited me to help out on his farm. Despite the initial hard work, I was simply content.
It was negative comments about organic farming that spurred me on to study agriculture. I realised that, if I wanted to be able to talk knowledgeably about it, I would have to study it. I’ve never regretted it!”

Her network 📲

“I love living alongside and studying the animals. I learn a lot from them. What makes it special is that I have lots of helpers. There are about 20 of us in a WhatsApp group. I send a message when I need help.
Someone is always available, especially my daughter and my godchild. Many people from the neighbourhood bring me their stale bread and collect wool or manure for their gardens. So, in one way or another, lots of people are involved!”

For her contact details: https://pulse.ly/sagngvnbw1

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

07/09/2026

🗣️ Voices on Climate: "Trees create a microclimate and lower stress underneath their canopy"

Agroforestry systems help to create cooler local conditions during the hottest hours of the day. This is one of the key findings of FiBL’s SysCom project, which is investigating, amongst other things, cocoa cultivation in agroforestry systems in Bolivia. In our series "Voices on Climate", FiBL systems researcher Stéphane Saj discusses the impact of trees and the limits of what is possible.

👉 Read the interview here: https://pulse.ly/zjbpouc3gl

03/09/2026

✨Meet SOILSCAPE at the 🌱Soils for Europe Conference in Coimbra, Portugal!

Join us to explore how 🎨art, 🧪science and 🎪community participation can make soils visible and inspire action for healthier soils. Meet the project partners, exchange ideas and learn more about our project and initiatives.

👉Find SOILSCAPE at:
🌱7 Sep | 15:40–17:00 – From Soil Monitoring to Soil Culture: The Role of Art and Participation
🌱8 Sep | 09:00–12:30 – Living Labs & Project Fair
🌱9 Sep | 13:30–14:30 – Poster Session 1

🔗Learn more about Soils for Europe - https://soils4europe2026.eu/

EU Science & Innovation UNESCO Office in Venice Reframe.food Horizon Europe AFES - Association Française pour l'Etude du Sol European Rural Development Network Cleantech Bulgaria Clust-ER Create LUT University Anci Toscana Landscape Alliance Global Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau Institut de recherche de l'agriculture biologique (FiBL) BFH | HESB - Hochschule für Agrar-, Forst- und Lebensmittelwissenschaften HAFL | Haute école des sciences agronomiques, forestières et alimentaires HAFL

28/08/2026

Portrait number 5 in our series FiBL Women 💪 in Agriculture!

Today with, Challandes member of the FiBL Foundation Council and farmer.

Her message ✉️

“Without women, Swiss agriculture would not be where it is today!
With women at the helm, it will move in the right direction. They can show the younger generation the way forward and encourage them to take the chance!”

Her career 🗞️

“I am a lawyer and a farmer with four grown-up children. I have worked in agricultural policy since 2014 and have been a member of the Executive Committee of the Swiss Association of Women Farmers and Rural Women (SBLV) since 2016. I have served as President of the SBLV since 2019.
Since 2019, I have been Vice-President of the Swiss Farmers’ Union (SBV). I was also a correspondent for the newspaper Agri for 16 years.”

Her environment📍

“As a child, I spent my holidays on a relative’s farm. It was through my husband, Stéphane, that I became a farmer. The countryside has become my living environment and farming my natural habitat – where I feel very much at home.
Since 2019, I have mainly been responsible for administration, bookkeeping, and household tasks on the farm.”

Her commitment 🙌

“I am actively committed to supporting women in agriculture and women from rural areas across all regions of Switzerland at a national level. Representing the interests of women and their families is a priority for me.
I therefore use my experience and knowledge to give women a voice and help them improve their positions. There are certainly aspects that need to be addressed in the future!”

Explore the dedicated page for the UN Year 2026 from the Swiss Association of Women Farmers and Rural Women: https://pulse.ly/tt8oy4xgr4

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

27/08/2026

🌍 How can Europe build a more climate-resilient agriculture?

As the European Commission develops an integrated framework for European climate resilience and risk management, we want to discuss how organic farming can help incentivise long-term resilience.

On 2 September, meet policymakers, researchers and practitioners at the European Parliament (or online, if you can't be there in person) for a discussion on the role of organic farming in strengthening the climate resilience of European agriculture.

✨ Programme highlights:
🌱 Evidence-based insights into the contribution of organic farming to climate resilience, complemented by practical experience from an organic farmer.
💬 A policy dialogue on the design of an effective climate resilience and risk management framework for agriculture.

🤝 The event is co-organised by IFOAM Organics Europe, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (JLU) and Firab as part of the Organicclimatenet project, and co-hosted by MEP Cristina Guarda (Greens/EFA in the European Parliament) and MEP Eric Sargiacomo (Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament).

📝 Discover the full agenda and register by 30 August https://www.organicseurope.bio/events/the-contribution-of-organic-farming-to-climate-change-adaptation-and-resilience/

24/08/2026

🌱👗 From Soil to Style – and Back Again
What does soil have to do with fashion? More than you might think.
📅 29 August 2026
📍 Maison Shift, Zurich, Switzerland

Fashion Revolution Switzerland invites the public to an event exploring the connections between soil 🌱, agriculture 🌾, textiles 🧣, fashion 👚 and art 🎨.

The programme brings together perspectives from FiBL, Swiss Flax, Agroscope, Edie Lou Studio and Larissa Riesen, creating space for dialogue and a deeper look at the environmental systems behind what we wear.

The event will also feature Soil Bodies – The Living Tapestry, a citizen science project developed by Edie Lou Studio in collaboration with Agroscope and FiBL, exploring how textiles 🧣 interact with different soils 🌱.

🔗 Learn more here: https://soilscape.eu/event/from-soil-to-style-and-back-again/?preview=true

EU Science & Innovation UNESCO Office in Venice Reframe.food Horizon Europe AFES - Association Française pour l'Etude du Sol European Rural Development Network Cleantech Bulgaria Clust-ER Create LUT University Anci Toscana Landscape Alliance Global Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau Institut de recherche de l'agriculture biologique (FiBL) BFH | HESB - Hochschule für Agrar-, Forst- und Lebensmittelwissenschaften HAFL | Haute école des sciences agronomiques, forestières et alimentaires HAFL EU Science Hub - Joint Research Centre

21/08/2026

20/08/2026

and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), through its Department of International Cooperation (ICO), are seeking a highly experienced professional to join the partnership advancing organic agriculture, agroecology, sustainable food systems, and market development across Africa.

📅 Submission Deadline: 15th September 2026

The successful candidate will lead and support market, sector and policy development initiatives, build strategic networks among public and private actors, expand organic and agroecological market opportunities, strengthen value chains, support capacity development, and contribute to policy, advocacy and scaling strategies.

and particularly welcome applications from female candidates.

For more information/application 🔗 https://gqr.sh/83dL

Join and in advancing sustainable and inclusive food systems across Africa.

20/08/2026

Nurture your soil and conserve your water to safeguard your harvest.

When you plant on a slope, it can lead to quick runoff that washes away precious topsoil.

Contour farming is a great way to slow down that water flow, enhance infiltration and keep your soil right where it should be.

Lean more from the link below:

https://kcoa-africa.org/hold-the-soil-protect-the-harvest-why-contour-farming-matters/





SAOSO Kusamala Institute of Agriculture and Ecology Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre PELUM Zambia Namibian Organic Association Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) PGS South Africa Sustainability Institute SAFCEI Soils, Food and Healthy Communities Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) Zambia Alliance for Agroecology and Biodiversity Zambia Climate Change Network Seed and Knowledge Initiative - SKI Busisiwe Mgangxela

18/08/2026

Every flower counts 🌼🪰🐝🪻

The loss and fragmentation of natural habitats are directly linked to insect decline, threatening vital ecosystem services such as pollination and biological pest control.

In addition to agricultural biodiversity structures, flowering plants in urban gardens and on balconies can counteract this negative trend. Providing food and nesting opportunities is essential for securing the presence and diversity of beneficial insects. Urban public and private gardens can serve as crucial food sources and refuges within urban areas.

🎓 As part of a FiBL Master's thesis, a wide variety of flowering plant mixes for private use will be tested for their attractiveness to pollinators (starting April/May 2027).

Interested? Apply now! https://pulse.ly/x4g86edawj