We are establishing the hazelnut in Switzerland

Haselnüsse sind in der Schweiz gefragt. Nicht nur als gesunder Snack, sondern auch in der traditionsreichen Schweizer Schokoladenindustrie. Die in der Schweiz konsumierten Haselnüsse stammen aber in knapp 90 Prozent der Fälle aus der Türkei. Oftmals herrschen dort mangelhafte Arbeitsbedingungen und die Lieferketten sind intransparent. Although the hazelnut is native to Switzerland, there are almost no local hazelnuts: There is hardly any knowledge about variety selection and cultivation and it is difficult to obtain good planting material. We want to change that.

More biodiversity and climate resilience thanks to Zurich hazelnuts

Although our climate is good for hazelnuts and the nut is native to Switzerland, only very few Swiss farmers grow the nut on a large scale. However, local and short supply chains would lead to more transparency and better traceability of hazelnuts if they were grown in Switzerland. Domestic agriculture could be strengthened and regional trade promoted. Not to mention the fact that the shorter transportation routes would also result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Our aim is therefore to set up the first large hazelnut plantation in the canton of Zurich in order to promote biodiversity in a concrete and local way. In this way, we are contributing to greater ecosystem diversity in Switzerland, ensuring greater biodiversity and more genetic diversity through a hazelnut variety garden. Our scientific monitoring is also concerned with questions of flowering times, variety compatibility, nut characteristics and susceptibility to disease in order to be able to make well-founded variety recommendations for hazelnut cultivation in Switzerland in the future.

1,900 hazelnut trees on 3 hectares

Stefan Gerber, an innovative farmer and biologist from Mettmenstetten ZH, began planting around 1,600 hazelnut trees on 2.5 hectares in 2021. There are now 1,900 trees and 72 different varieties on 3 hectares. Crowd Container supports Stefan Gerber in the financing of the hazelnut variety garden, the biodiversity-promoting measures and the scientific monitoring. Specifically, for example, we coordinate the preparation of the life cycle assessment and the biodiversity report. We also regularly recruit volunteers to work on Stefan Gerber's farm through our community.

Hazelnut-Project-Stefan-Gerber-Crowd-Container5

"Together with the Crowd Container Community, I am collecting knowledge on 72 different hazelnut varieties. Our aim is to establish the cultivation of hazelnuts in Switzerland."

Stefan Gerber, hazelnut farmer from Mettmenstetten ZH

First hazelnut variety garden

In 2022, we established a hazelnut variety garden. This now comprises 72 hazelnut varieties, each with two trees. Stefan Gerber uses these trees to monitor the flowering times, the suitability of the location and the potential yield of the different varieties. Since 2021, soil samples have been taken and leaf analyses carried out annually to monitor nutrient availability. Stefan Gerber has also planted a hedge consisting of wild roses, cornelian cherries and sea buckthorn, among others, with the help of numerous volunteers.

Biodiversity and life cycle assessment

We are planning further measures to promote biodiversity, the long-term effects of which can be measured in around three to five years. These include the construction of branch and stone piles for weasels in the hedges, biodiversity strips in the lane and the creation of a wildflower meadow next to the hazelnut plantation. A first Interim report on biodiversity incl. comparison with other farms was created at the end of 2023. The Life cycle assessment prepared by myclimate we published in summer 2024.