The Federal Council has approved the future strategy of Agroscope, the National Research Centre for Agriculture, Food, and Environment. Schaffhausen's agriculture also benefits from this: the Canton of Schaffhausen is now included in the federal programme as an experimental station for smart technologies. This will enable new technologies and concepts to be tested and developed under real conditions in Schaffhausen together with national research.

To this end, the economic promotion of the Canton of Schaffhausen, the Schaffhausen Agricultural Office, the Schaffhausen Farmers' Association and interested companies are working together in a joint practical test. The connection to the Canton of Thurgau and thus to the Swiss Future Farm SFF also gives the Schaffhausen competence network another strong partner.

"After the successful cooperation in practical tests between the agricultural machinery specialists AGCO and GVS with local farmers, this is already the second pleasing milestone in the cantonal efforts in the future farming sector. The inclusion of the Schaffhausen application region in a federal programme is a strong sign that we can help shape the future of agriculture with technology from Schaffhausen", emphasises Robin Sticher, Future Farming Project Manager at the Economic Promotion Agency.

In Schaffhausen, future technologies such as precision planting, virtual fences, drone operations, linking up tractors, Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS), and the cantonal and national agricultural portals and similar new technologies are to be tested and optimised. Corresponding discussions are already underway.