PhD Candidate - Development of food legume value chains in Switzerland

Nyon | 100-100%

Your contribution

• Conduct a literature review and progressively develop the problem statement and scientific approach of the project
• Map the food legume value chains in Switzerland and analyze the roles and interactions between the different actors
• Design, conduct, and analyze field surveys with value chain actors
• Set up and analyze field experiments to evaluate varieties and analyze consumer preferences
• Design and facilitate workshops and initiatives with various actors in order to support innovation and the co-construction of scenarios for value chain development
• Valorize and disseminate results through publications and scientific communications, contribute to knowledge transfer, and participate in academic life

What distinguishes you

• Engineer or Master's in agronomy, preferably with experience in research or participatory projects involving various actors
• Interest in field work and applied research as well as the ability to work interdisciplinarily
• Scientific curiosity, initiative, interest in learning new methods, rigor, and organizational skills
• Good knowledge of R software
• Driver's license
• Knowledge of two official languages and English

In summary

Food legumes represent an important lever to diversify cropping systems, reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizers, and promote a more sustainable diet. Despite growing interest, their production remains limited in Switzerland and most consumed legumes are imported. The development of local value chains indeed faces several challenges, from production to processing and marketing.
In this context, the Filigrane project, funded by the Swiss Confederation, aims to promote the development of Swiss value chains for food legumes. It combines the evaluation of varieties suitable for Swiss conditions, the optimization of cultivation practices, the elaboration of scenarios to organize value chains, as well as the study of processing and the determining factors of consumption.
The thesis is part of this project and will be co-supervised by Agroscope and INRAE (UMR Agronomie), under the direction of Marie-Hélène Jeuffroy.

What we offer

• Working for Switzerland We strive for the successful Swiss model and work for the well-being of the population.
• Experiencing diversity The realization of equal opportunities allows us to best express our skills and contemplate different points of view.
• Fit at the workplace We provide support and advice to our employees on the topic of physical and mental health.

All benefits (https://www.stelle.admin.ch/stelle/it/home/bundesverwaltung/ihre-vorteile-auf-einen-blick.html)

Eating well in a healthy environment

Agroscope is the Confederation's competence center for research in the agri-food sector and belongs to the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER). Researchers carry out their activities at various locations in Switzerland, the main one is located in Bern-Liebefeld (Posieux FR from 2026).

Additional information

The Crop Techniques and Varieties in Field Research Group is dedicated to the research of sustainable production techniques and new varieties adapted to climate change, for the main field species grown with different production methods (integrated production, label, or organic farming). To achieve its goal, the Group is active in experimentation, mainly in the field, from Lake Geneva to eastern Switzerland.

Questions about the workplace

Alice Baux
Team Leader
+41 58 46 04722