Swiss federal research authority driving crop breeding, soil health, and climate-smart agriculture across 38 H2020 projects with 626 European partners.
WBF is the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, which channels Switzerland's agricultural research capabilities into European collaborative projects. Through its research entities (notably Agroscope), it conducts applied research in crop breeding, soil management, pest control, and sustainable food systems. The organization brings deep expertise in plant genetics, agroecology, and livestock science to large EU consortia, contributing field trial data, breeding tools, and policy-relevant evidence from Swiss agriculture. It also plays a coordination role in transnational research programs linking national funding agencies across Europe.
Core contributor across BUNGEE (directed breeding via transposons), SolACE (genomic selection, microbiome), EUCLEG (molecular breeding), AGENT (genebank genomics), GAIN4CROPS (photorespiration engineering), and INVITE (variety testing).
Major participant in EJP SOIL (EUR 2.6M, their largest project), Circular Agronomics (nutrient recycling, GHG emissions), BEST4SOIL, and OPTAIN (water/nutrient retention).
Coordinated IPM-Popillia (invasive beetle management, EUR 1.3M) and INMIfungi (entomopathogenic fungi), plus RUSTWATCH (wheat rust), VALITEST (plant health diagnostics), and MycoKey (mycotoxin management).
Contributed to CORE Organic Cofund, LIVESEED (organic seed/breeding), IWMPRAISE (integrated weed management), and FOODLAND (agro-biodiversity and food systems).
Engaged in SMARTCHAIN (short food supply chains), MycoKey (mycotoxin management), Circular Agronomics (agri-food chain efficiency), and FOODLAND (dietary diversity).
PoshBee (EUR 655K, bee health monitoring across Europe) and EPIDIVERSE (epigenetic diversity in ecology) show growing engagement in biodiversity research.
In 2016-2018, WBF's work centered on crop genetics and breeding fundamentals — genomic selection in cereals (wheat, barley), mycotoxin control, and agricultural economics training. From 2019 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward sustainability and climate adaptation: soil health management (EJP SOIL), circular nutrient systems, citizen science for pest monitoring, and food system resilience. This mirrors the broader EU policy shift from productivity-focused agricultural research toward climate-smart, environmentally responsible farming.
WBF is moving firmly toward climate adaptation in agriculture — future partners should expect collaboration opportunities around soil carbon, circular nutrient management, and sustainability metrics for farming systems.
WBF overwhelmingly participates as a partner (33 of 38 projects) rather than leading, which is typical for a government department contributing national research infrastructure and expertise to large consortia. With 626 unique partners across 47 countries, they are a major network hub — one of the most connected agricultural research actors in H2020. This breadth means they bring not just scientific capability but also access to an extensive European research network, making them a valuable consortium anchor.
With 626 unique consortium partners spanning 47 countries, WBF maintains one of the broadest collaboration networks in European agricultural research. Their reach extends well beyond Western Europe, covering virtually every EU member state plus associated countries.
As Switzerland's federal research authority for agriculture, WBF brings a rare combination: government-backed credibility, world-class field research facilities (Agroscope stations), and a non-EU perspective that adds geographic diversity to consortia. Their strength lies in bridging fundamental plant science with practical farming applications — they contribute genetic tools AND field validation data from Swiss agricultural conditions. For consortium builders, they offer the reliability of a public institution, substantial co-funding capacity, and connections to Swiss innovation ecosystems that are otherwise hard to access in H2020 projects.
