The Federal Council has approved the future strategy of Agroscope, the national research centre for agriculture, nutrition and the environment. Schaffhausen's agriculture will also benefit from this: the canton of Schaffhausen is now anchored in the federal programme as a test station for smart technologies. This means that new technologies and concepts can now be tested and developed in Schaffhausen under real-life conditions together with national research.

In joint practical tests, the cantonal economic development agency is working together with the Schaffhausen Agricultural Office, the Schaffhausen Farmers' Association and interested companies. The connection of the canton of Thurgau and thus the Swiss Future Farm SFF also gives the Schaffhausen competence network another strong partner.

"Following the successful collaboration in practical tests between the agricultural machinery specialists AGCO and GVS with local farmers, this is already the second pleasing milestone in the canton's endeavours in the area of Future Farming. 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 Canton of Schaffhausen.

In Schaffhausen, technologies such as precision planting, virtual fences, drone operations, networking between tractors, Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS) and the cantonal and national agricultural portals and similar new technologies are to be tested and optimised in the future. Discussions to this end are already underway.