Ground-breaking ceremony for the agriculture of the future

With a dairy cattle shed for 120 cows, a barn for rearing and fattening calves and beef cattle, a metabolic centre with stables and respiration chambers, a forum for events, and an office and laboratory building – the Real Estate infrastructure division at ETH Zurich and the Cantonal Building Department are planning great things in Eschikon Lindau. The new and replacement buildings will form the basis of a state-of-the-art teaching and research centre. The Vetsuisse Faculty at the University of Zurich will contribute its expertise in veterinary medicine to the project.

Ueli Voegeli, Director of Strickhof explained the aims of the project at Monday's ground-breaking ceremony: to work closely with agriculture, farming and veterinary science to carry out research across the entire food value chain – “from feed to food”.

Combining theory with practice

This touches on a number of global issues, according to ETH Zurich President Lino Guzzella: How can we sustainably manage land as a resource? What constitutes environmentally and ethically responsible agriculture? And how can we feed the world's growing population? These questions can only be answered by combining theory with practice. “ETH Zurich can provide a theoretical basis for the agriculture of the future”, says Guzzella.

University of Zurich Rector Michael Hengartner discussed the innovative inclusion of veterinary medicine in the project. He explained that, where previously veterinarians working in agriculture did not tend to come on the scene until the animals were sick, in future they will be able to observe and carry out research throughout an animal's life in a much more comprehensive way.

“The fact that the Cantonal Parliament unanimously approved the loan for the construction shows how highly the project is regarded”, said Cantonal Councillor and Director of Construction, Markus Kägi. Hans Frei, President of the Zurich Farmers’ Association and Vice President of the Swiss Farmers’ Union, is also impressed with the project: “As farmers, we need to be innovative, but that can't happen without research.”