Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL

The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL is one of the world’s leading institutes in the field of organic agriculture, with locations in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, France, and Brussels (Belgium). FiBL excels in interdisciplinary research, innovations developed jointly with farmers and the food industry, solution-oriented projects, and rapid knowledge transfer from research into practice.

FiBL Switzerland, headquartered in Frick, was founded in 1973 and employs about 300 people. Its funding comes from private sector projects, EU research, and Swiss federal support.
The Department of Soil Sciences studies the effects of organic and non-organic farming on soil quality, focusing on micro-organisms, organic matter mineralization, and humus formation. We aim to enhance crop yields and conserve resources through reduced tillage, beneficial soil bacteria and mycorrhizae, and ways of improving nutrient cycles through crop rotations. The team also explores alternative phosphorus sources and recycled products, assesses greenhouse gas emissions to find ways to mitigate climate change, and investigates soil management options for adaptation to climate change.