Water is a valuable resource, especially in light of climate change. Swiss agriculture can continue to rely on reliable soil moisture data for sustainable water management: the proven 'bewaesserungsnetz.ch', developed at BFH-HAFL, is being transferred to the newly founded AgriAqua AG. AgriAqua AG is thus the latest BFH spin-off.
For farmers, sustainable and responsible handling of the water resource is becoming increasingly important. Due to climate change, higher temperatures and lower rainfall in summer are to be expected in vegetable and arable farming, which increases the need for irrigation. The Bern University of Applied Sciences for Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences BFH-HAFL, together with partners, has established a nationwide soil moisture measurement network with currently around 250 probe locations (www.bewaesserungsnetz.ch).
Irrigation management is being strengthened.
Since 2016, 'bewaesserungsnetz.ch' has been digitally providing reliable and specific soil moisture data for locations. As more and more agricultural enterprises use digital support to use water in a targeted and resource-conserving manner, the offer and its further development are now secured in the long term: 'bewaesserungsnetz.ch' is being transferred to the newly founded AgriAqua AG. The previous team will remain active at AgriAqua AG. Silke Fieseler-Hein, an experienced personality with a broad network in Swiss agriculture, will take over the management.
With the new spin-off at BFH-HAFL, the Bern University of Applied Sciences expands its diverse portfolio of spin-offs and demonstrates its strength in its strategic focus on 'sustainable development' and as an entrepreneurial university.
Reliable data for enterprises.
For agricultural enterprises, nothing changes with the new organizational form: Information from their own soil moisture sensors remains free, unlimited in time, and available in the previous scope. 'For enterprises, it is crucial that they can continue to rely on the data from their probes. We ensure this reliability with the new structure,' says Andreas Keiser, lecturer in arable farming and plant breeding at BFH-HAFL, initiator of the irrigation network, and new chairman of the board of directors of AgriAqua AG.
New added value for practice, advice, and authorities.
New, additional evaluations are to be created based on the existing data – such as regional overviews of the water situation or culture-specific analyses. These are aimed at agriculture, consulting, and cantonal agencies and support informed decisions in water management. Stéphane Teuscher, Head of the Services & Consulting Department within the association Prométerre in the Canton of Vaud with the densest probe network, notes: 'The irrigation network provides valuable insights into the water situation of enterprises and helps to use water purposefully and responsibly.'
Broadly supported – strongly networked.
AgriAqua AG is supported by a broadly founded partnership from agriculture, consulting, research, and the public sector. These include BFH-HAFL, over 70 probe owners from agriculture, Swiss Agrarmedien AG, IP-SUISSE, Prométerre, the Bern Farmers' Union, the Solothurn Farmers' Union, the Vegetable Producers Association of Zurich and neighbouring areas, the irrigation project ArroBroye, ProAgricultura, the agricultural competence centre Grangeneuve as well as the cantons of Vaud, Fribourg, Thurgau, Bern, Solothurn, Aargau, Zurich, and St. Gallen. This broad anchoring ensures a practical, regionally supported and at the same time nationally oriented further development of AgriAqua AG.
Contacts:
Prof. Dr. Andreas Keiser, Lecturer in Arable Farming, Plant Breeding andreas.keiser@bfh.ch
Dr. Silke Fieseler-Hein, Managing Director AgriAqua silke.fieseler-hein@bfh.ch