L'agriculture intelligente atteindra les champs suisses en 2025

Switzerland is entering a new stage of agricultural development as smart farming becomes part of daily operations on farms from the Alps to the lowlands. What started as small trial projects is evolving into a broader shift in how land is cultivated. Startups and technology providers are supplying drones, sensors, artificial intelligence and data platforms that help growers use fewer resources, improve yields and meet rising environmental expectations. The shift is affecting farm operations, regional economies and Switzerland’s position in sustainable food production.

From traditional practice to digital support

For generations Swiss agriculture relied on inherited knowledge, seasonal timing and manual routines. Mechanisation in the twentieth century raised productivity but farming remained resource intensive. Spraying schedules were fixed and farmers had little information about soil variation or crop stress. As costs increased and climate variability intensified, the limits of this model became clearer.

New technologies appeared in the early 2020s. Satellites, sensors, drones and analytics tools offered solutions that could make field work more targeted. Adoption was initially slow, especially on smaller farms, but early users showed that precision agriculture reduced inputs and improved efficiency. Switzerland’s strength in engineering and research supported the trend. By 2024 many agritech ventures were developing smart farming tools, although most were still in the pilot phase.

A turning point in 2025

This year marks a decisive step. Adoption rates have risen and a significant share of Swiss farms now use precision tools. Startups have secured the capital needed to scale their technologies and move beyond prototypes.

• Ecorobotix illustrates the pace of expansion. The company raised EUR 90 million in October 2025, roughly CHF 88 million, bringing its total funding to about CHF 125 million. Its ultra high precision sprayers, guided by artificial intelligence and capable of treating individual plants with minimal chemical use, are moving into broad deployment. The system can reduce pesticide and herbicide consumption by up to 95 percent while preserving crop health.
• Gamaya, one of the long standing pioneers in the sector, continues to provide drone based hyperspectral imaging that identifies plant diseases, nutrient shortages or water stress early. This allows farmers to act before damage spreads and to tailor their interventions to actual field conditions.

According to the 2025 update of the national Agritech and Foodtech community, Switzerland now has nearly 150 agri and food tech startups. The sector recorded a compound annual growth rate of 29.5 percent between 2018 and 2023. The figures signal that smart farming is moving from niche innovation to wider adoption.

Market momentum strengthens across Europe

The European precision farming market, covering sensors, software, drones and automated machinery, reached about CHF 3.2 billion in 2024. Forecasts suggest growth to around CHF 9.8 billion by 2033. Another estimate places the broader European smart agriculture market at roughly CHF 6.3 billion in 2024 with strong growth ahead.

Switzerland follows the same trajectory. A 2024 sector review noted that more than half of Swiss farms have adopted at least one form of precision technology, such as soil sensors, farm management systems or automated spraying. Investment patterns show that upstream farm level technologies accounted for 62 percent of all agritech investment in 2023, indicating confidence in solutions that deliver direct operational benefits.

Swiss innovators build momentum

Ecorobotix remains a leading name in individual plant spraying. The company targets precise application of herbicides or pesticides to reduce chemical use and input costs.
Gamaya, headquartered in Morges, uses drone-carried hyperspectral cameras and analytics software to monitor crop health, soil moisture and nutrient levels. The approach allows farmers to optimise water and fertiliser use and avoid unnecessary losses.
Alongside these firms, dozens of startups are working in fields such as IoT sensors, robotics and digital farm management, indicating that Switzerland has become a concentrated hub for agricultural innovation.

Economic effects begin to take shape

The rise of smart farming has noticeable economic implications. High value jobs are emerging in engineering, software development, biotech, data analytics and drone operations. Farms that adopt the technology can improve productivity and reduce costs, helping them remain competitive in a market with rising input prices.

Swiss startups are increasingly exporting their solutions to European markets, which strengthens Switzerland’s technological footprint and diversifies revenue streams. The shift also supports environmental goals by cutting chemical use, lowering runoff and reducing land use intensity, aligning Swiss practice with European expectations for sustainable food systems.

What the next years are likely to bring

The coming period will focus on broader scaling of precision farming equipment as prices fall and awareness grows. Integrated systems that combine drones, satellites, in field sensors, artificial intelligence and automated machinery will expand, giving farmers a more complete digital overview of their operations. Consolidation within the agritech ecosystem is likely as companies with strong technology and clear commercial strategies attract further investment and others face pressure to exit or merge. European markets are expected to continue expanding at double digit rates, offering additional export opportunities for Swiss firms.

A shift with consequences for food production

Farmers gain from higher precision, fewer inputs and more stable yields. Consumers receive food that is produced with greater transparency and lower environmental impact. Policymakers can pursue sustainability goals without reducing output. Smart farming also strengthens the resilience of the food system in Switzerland and across Europe by reducing dependence on imports and helping agriculture adapt to climate change.

Switzerland’s adoption of precision agriculture in 2025 signals more than a technological upgrade. It marks a structural change in how the country produces food, how rural economies develop and how Swiss agritech competes internationally. The momentum seen this year suggests that Switzerland could become one of the leading centres for sustainable high tech agriculture in Europe as the decade unfolds.