Press releases
The Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) provides regular and transparent updates. On this page, you will find our press releases from this year and previous years. The FOAG’s press releases are distributed via News Service Bund, and you can subscribe to them on the portal – along with all other Federal Administration communications.
Latest press releases
Hand-over of keys to Agroscope’s new laboratory building in Posieux: a milestone for the national research campus
On Friday 14 August 2026 the canton of Fribourg officially handed over the keys to Agroscope’s new laboratory building in Posieux to the Swiss Confederation. The ceremony was attended by President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin and delegations from the Fribourg State Council and the Agroscope executive board as well as the Federal Offices for Agriculture (FOAG) and Buildings and Logistics (FOBL). Thus the centrepiece of Agroscope’s new site strategy is now ready for use.
Savings Measures: Agroscope Sharpens the Focus of its Research Portfolio
Because of various savings measures passed by the Swiss Parliament and the Federal Council, Agroscope’s ordinary budget shows a structural deficit of around CHF 10 million. This makes a narrowing of the thematic focus of the research portfolio essential, and leads to a loss of 58 full-time positions. Even with this narrowed focus, Agroscope will remain a competent and competitive research institution for the Swiss agriculture and food sector over the long term. The site strategy for Agroscope passed by the Federal Council in May 2020 will continue to be implemented.
Field Trial with Cisgenic Potatoes: Sustainable Disease Resistance Sought
Agroscope is testing the use of new breeding technologies by cultivating a late blight-resistant potato cultivar in the field. Authorised by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the field study serves as a basis for researching potato varieties containing no foreign DNA. These so called ‘cisgenic’ varieties reduce the need for plant-protection products and can better withstand extreme weather conditions.
Statement establishing a Dialogue on Emerging Agricultural Trade Issues
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Peru, Switzerland, Ukraine and Uruguay established a Statement on a Dialogue on Emerging Agricultural Trade Issues at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The Statement establishes a forum that is expected to build trust and foster mutual understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainable agriculture, taking into account the diverse realities and approaches of WTO Members. It sends a strong signal that Members are willing to find new ways of engaging on issues of common concern.
High-level G10 Gathering in Yaoundé
Senior officials of G10 Members met on 27 March 2026 on the fringes of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organisation in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Upon invitation from Switzerland, the G10 Members discussed current developments in the WTO negotiations on agriculture. They emphasised their willingness to engage constructively in agricultural talks at MC14 and beyond, while ensuring compatibility with their respective agricultural policies and taking their interests as net food importing countries into account.
Reduction in US additional tariffs to enter into force retroactively
The US is applying a tariff ceiling of 15% on imports from Switzerland. This applies retroactively from 14 November 2025. In return, Switzerland will reduce import tariffs on certain fish and agricultural products from the USA. The basis for this is the joint statement published on 14 November between Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the USA.
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