Switzerland: rice instead of carrot

Swiss wet rice is in high demand. The Guillod brothers were able to sell the entire harvest of around 30 tons last year. Apart from economic success, wet rice cultivation also ensures an increase in biodiversity.

There was great interest when a group of international agricultural journalists arrived in the fields between Mont Vully and Lake Neuchâtel in mid-August. The fields do not grow carrots or grain, as would be expected from the area Nasreis. That Wetland rice cultivation in Switzerland The international guests did not suspect that he was there before their visit, one of them heard. In fact, it is not common for Swiss people to pass a wet rice field on their walk. It’s a niche. But a special place that is both economically interesting and beneficial for biodiversity.

The Guillod Brothers: From vegetable farming to wet rice

The brothers Léandre and Maxime Guillod come from a family of vegetable gardeners. They still grow vegetables today, but they have discovered a new discovery in growing rice. 11 acres the cultivated area in the Vully area near the Broye Canal and in Bernese Seeland in Kappelen. The brothers market the Vlly rice as “white rice”the one from Kappelen called “Aare rice”. There are marketing considerations behind this; the word Aare is more popular in German-speaking Switzerland than Vully, as explained by Léandre Guillod.

Technology and biodiversity as inspiration

The brothers went into rice cultivation partly because of the technical side. You also run a precision level company, which is used, among other things, in the cultivation of vegetables. A completely flat ground is also necessary when growing rice. The Agroscope research institute came up with the idea of ​​combining this with rice. The research institute adopted the approach of growing crops that can handle irrigation while creating wetlands that are both biodiversity-promoting and productive.

Ecological benefits: frogs, dragonflies and no mosquito plague

This works, as you can see in the rice fields at the bottom of Vally. When you walk around the wet rice field, several frogs can be seen, quickly jumping into the water. About 50 meters later, the nightmare of the frogs appears; a grass snake, surprised by the guests, disappears into the shelter of the rice. “What do the neighbors think about the mosquito plague caused by the damp area?” asked a German agricultural journalist. Guillod knows the question and the answer: There is no mosquito plague. The reason is the thousands of dragonflies that move in and over the rice field. One Dragonfly larvae eat that is up to a day 100 mosquito larvae. A study has shown that there are more dragonflies living in the rice fields than in the nearby nature reserves.

Aquatic plants can be challenging

Guillods have hardly had any weed problems so far because the rice is already planted in the water as seed. “The water should not be too high, otherwise the seedlings will swim away,” says Guillod (you can find a detailed article about planting rice in Kappelen here). Guillods do not use any pesticides on rice. The only thing that worries Léandre Guillod at the moment is several aquatic plants that have settled among the rice. “Some of the plants are rare and would be valuable for biodiversity,” he said. “But we want to produce rice and competition from other plants doesn’t fit into that.”

Until now, Guillods have always produced the same areas, and no soil diseases have occurred as a result of the regular flooding. However, it is possible that the areas will have to be moved after a few years if the competing aquatic plants have become too established, he explains. The rice is growing well now and moving health from the damp place.

30 tons sold without any problems

Harvesting begins in September. There were about 30 tons of rice last year. “Everything is sold out,” says Léandre Guillod, not without pride. This year the cultivated area is 2 hectares higher. Up to 50 tons of production would be possible, says the wet rice pioneer. An even larger amount would exceed the current capacity of the operation. (Source: lid.ch)