MSc thesis Research at Agroscope and Innovation for the ... - OBIS

Département fédéral de l’économie DFE
Programme de recherche Agroscope
ProfiCrops
MSc thesis
Research at Agroscope and Innovation for the Swiss cropping sector
Introduction
Agricultural production in general and the cropping sector in particular face large challenges worldwide.
Globalisation increases competition through markets’ linkages. The concentration process of
food supply chains have transformed the production-driven chains to consumers-driven chains. Consumers’
demands and habits are steadfastly changing. Resources are getting scarier. Agricultural
producers in the South and in the North have to constantly adapt to new framework conditions to remain
competitive, hence to be innovative.
Agroscope is the leading agricultural research institution in Switzerland. Its mission is to generate solutions
that can be transferred to farmers and adopted by them in order to allow them to remain competitive.
It has initiated three research programs: AgriMontana, NutriScope and ProfiCrops. The aims
of these programs is to promote inter- and transdisciplinary as well as inter-institutions research and
boost agricultural research and reinforce communication.
Objective of the research program
The overall objective of ProfiCrops is contribute to the competitiveness of the Swiss plant production
sector in a more and more liberalized economic environment by developing and transferring new
products and methods to the crop producers. The program is structured in various topics, one of which
is innovation. This so-called module aims at reinforcing the innovation process within Agroscope cropping
research. The first activity is to map the products, the production and research methods that have
been developed for the cropping sector within Agroscope. This mapping will then serve as a basis for
the formulation of an innovation strategy.
Objectives of the thesis
- Identify and map innovations (products, production and research methods) developed by
Agroscope
- Innovation portfolio analysis of Agroscope
- Make recommendations on the innovation process within the cropping sector in Switzerland
- Present the results at Agroscope
Methodology and activities
- Review of the literature (innovation, agriculture, research)
- Define the sampling method (media communication paper, publications (output tool), …)
- Define characterization’s criteria for the products and the methods: radical vs incremental;
adopter of innovation (farmer, processor, consumer,…), social, environmental and economical
impacts, low vs high value crops, adoption rate, etc.
- Bilateral interviews with relevant research fellows at Agroscope ACW, ART and ALP
- Analyze the innovation portfolio of Agroscope for plant production
- Make recommendations on the innovation process
- Report the results (written report and oral presentation)
Expected output
- Research report (and MSc)
- Oral presentation of results and recommendations to ProfiCrops research staff
- Article in “Recherche Agronomique Suisse” (with co-authors)

Starting date and duration
Beginning of 2011 for 6 months.
Location
Agroscope can provide working space in Changins (rooms at Agroscope ACW Changins, very close to
Nyon). There would be regular travels to the various research stations in Wädenswil, Reckenholz and
Tänikon (Liebelefd and Posieux also possible) for the bilateral meetings with research fellows. These
travels are financed by Agroscope. Accommodation in Changins could also be provided if needed.
Requirements for the student
- Knowledge of agriculture is an asset.
- Proficiency in one of the three following languages: English, German and French. Good knowledge
of at least one other of these 3 languages.
- Ability and willingness to travel within Switzerland.
Resource persons at Agroscope
- Anna Crole-Rees, Program leader ProfiCrops, Agroscope, ACW Wädenswil, anna.crolerees@acw.admin.ch,
phone: +41 44 783 61 58.
- Arnold Schori, ACW Changins, Arnold.schori@acw.admin.ch, phone: +41 22 363 47 23.
- Bernard Jeangros, ACW Changins, Bernard.jeangros@acw.admin.ch, phone: + 41 22 363 47
38.
- Willy Kessler, ART Reckenholz, willy.kessler@art.admin.ch, phone: +41 44 377 72 76.
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