Will Sursee be Agroscope's new location?
Agroscope's new competence center for agricultural research could be found as a decentralized experimental station in Sursee. The nutrient emissions caused by intensive livestock farming in the canton of Lucerne are also to be studied here.
The research institute Agroscope is planning an experimental station in Sursee. This is the location strategy of the competence center for agricultural research founded in 2014. In the future, Agroscope will consist of a central main site in Posieux FR and regional research centers in Changins VD and Reckenholz ZH. In addition, there will be decentralized experimental stations. Since early summer 2019, intensive discussions had been held with cantons and industry organizations on the possible locations.
Nutrient emissions an issue
According to a survey, the Sursee site will focus on Media release of the Canton of Lucerne will be studies on nitrogen and phosphorus. These substances are increasingly entering the environment in the agricultural canton with its intensive animal husbandry. "Around ten percent of the cattle and poultry population and 30 percent of the pig population in Switzerland are kept in the canton of Lucerne," explains Lucerne's Agriculture and Environment Director Fabian Peter. "This comparatively high animal intensity leads to corresponding nutrient emissions, which represent a major challenge for the environment." With the experimental station in Sursee, practice and research could be better linked and the challenges could be addressed in a more targeted manner.
Consultations in the parliamentary commissions are planned for the first quarter of 2020. The Federal Council is expected to decide on the next steps in the second quarter. "We would be very pleased if we could welcome the first Agroscope employees in Sursee as early as the end of 2020," says Peter. (Source: Canton of Lucerne)
