This programme aims to improve the sustainability of agriculture and food systems
To support real-world solutions to these challenges, the World Food System Center at ETH Zurich and Nestlé join forces to establish a new Agriculture and Food Systems Research Programme.
This programme aims to improve the sustainability of agriculture and food systems, support human and environmental health, and to create value for all stakeholders of the food system.
Research focus areas include reduction of greenhouse gases in dairy farming, agriculture production for climate change mitigation, agronomy for improved yield and nutrition, and food innovation for plant-based meat, seafood and dairy alternatives.
To start this new programme, Nestlé has provided ETH Zurich with 2.8 million Swiss francs of research funding to support interdisciplinary projects in the outlined focus areas of agriculture and food systems.
The programme is structured around annual calls that will fund projects of 2 to 4 years duration, with a maximum budget of 400’000 Swiss Francs per project. The first call opens 15 February 2021, and the funding is available to any member of the World Food System Center.
This programme further strengthens ETH Zurich’s research partnership with Nestlé in agricultural and food sciences. In 2019, the Future Food Initiative was launched, with Nestlé as a founding partner. This initiative focuses on bringing exceptionally qualified young researchers to Switzerland who proposes projects targeting future food issues, such as nutrition, production, packaging, and digital health.