FiBL On-Farm Network

For over 40 years, FiBL Switzerland has been developing knowledge and solutions for organic farming in close cooperation with interested, innovative farmers. In 2021, this on-farm network was certified as Living Lab by ENoLL. The on-farm network and the manifold projects that build up on it are funded by the research institute. This includes basic funding by the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) and third-party funding by e.g. other federal offices, cantonal authorities, private organizations and EU projects.

• Active listening to farmers’ needs, discussion and inspiration for new projects takes place all year round and is essential to be up-to-date and to source the network.
• Exchange with stakeholders to design on-farm experimentation is project specific and may be more top down or fully co-creative depending on the project nature.
• Prototyping by setting up on-farm trials is a core feature of all projects.
• Evaluation and exchange on trial results delivers feedback and inspiration for further collaboration.
• The core method is positive exchange assuring a win-win balance between researchers/advisors and stakeholders.
• Dedicated methods within projects include e.g. workshops, working groups and farmers field days.

"We farmers request for more genuine collaboration at eye level. That definitely took place today, which I appreciate very much.”

• Dynamic on-farm network and good collaboration, learning opportunities for all
• Testing innovations e.g. weeding robot in sugar beet or strip cropping