A few pioneering producers began growing almonds in Switzerland. These trees are generally found around the Mediterranean basin and in California, but thanks to milder winters, this nut could become acclimatized here.
For four years, Agroscope, the Confederation’s competence center in the field of agricultural and agri-food research, has been studying 27 varieties of almond trees in its experimental orchard in Wintersingen in the canton of Basel. They are looking to find out if there is real potential for Swiss sweet almonds.
One of the problems encountered by Agroscope is the flowering period of the almond trees. These in fact flower very early, from March, while episodes of spring frost are still possible. The almond tree is also very susceptible to moniliosis, fungi that infect flowers when it rains a lot.
Climate adaptation
However, spring is coming earlier and earlier and winters are becoming milder, encouraging some to believe that almond cultivation is indeed possible in Switzerland. This is the case of Vaud winegrower Pierre Gillard, who planted 200 almond trees in his Préverenges orchard, next to his vines. “I’m a little curious, I like trying things. And then with global warming, it might be an interesting culture,” he testifies in La Matinale de la RTS.
It was precisely climate change that inspired Pierre Gillard to look for new types of crops. “We can already see it in the choices of the vines. In the grape varieties, there are things that will disappear and we will change to other grape varieties more from the South,” he explains. “We will be forced to adapt to different crops, hence the purpose of the almond trees.”
When he decided to get started, the winegrower faced several challenges, starting with finding trees. “We imported the trees. It’s very complicated. It’s the same thing for vines, we have to ask for authorization all the time,” he says. “Because otherwise you have to take the trees from Switzerland. But there you have it, you have to find them in Switzerland. There’s no one who does that.”
Since almond trees are not very common in Switzerland, the resources available to learn how to grow almonds are rare. “We learn on the job because we discover how to cut. There are not many references,” explains Pierre Gillard.
Crop diversification
One of the other main challenges of growing almonds concerns their profitability. Pierre Gillard sees opportunities, but does not imagine being profitable for several years. “The first outlets would be chocolate-confectioners. They buy a lot of them in California, so why not buy ours?” he says. “We had a first small harvest last year of 35 kilos. In one month, it was sold directly.”
Pierre Gillard is not only banking on almonds in the future. Combining crops could also represent a solution to make this sector profitable. The winegrower also observes that as the almond harvest takes place just at the start of the harvest, he already has the labor available.
“It can be interesting for people who already make nuts, like hazelnuts or walnuts,” estimates Maxime Perret, scientific collaborator for the Union fruitière Lémanique. They already have machines for picking and crushing, as well as “the entire production line for washing, sorting, etc.” “But it will certainly remain a small market with little competition compared to the massive tonnage of the Mediterranean basin,” he warns.
To cope with climatic uncertainties, Agroscope in any case advocates diversification of crops, the almond tree being more resistant to heatwaves and less water intensive. Agroscope is now seeking to find out what impact the importation of non-native species has on biodiversity.
Radio subject: Katia Bitsch
Web adaptation: Emilie Délétroz
