Who Are We?
Fribourg Agri&Food: An Ambitious Strategy to Develop Fribourg's Agri-Food Sector
A wide range of stakeholders from across the sector are actively involved in shaping this agri-food strategy, which is jointly led by three cantonal departments: the Department of Economic Affairs, Employment and Vocational Training (DEEF), the Department of Institutions, Agriculture and Forests (DIAF), and the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs (DFAC).
The Cluster Food & Nutrition is responsible for implementing and coordinating the strategy under a service agreement with the Canton of Fribourg. This close collaboration between the various stakeholders helps coordinate existing initiatives, create synergies, and pool resources to strengthen the region's agri-food ecosystem.
Meet the Project Committee & Coordination Team
The Project Committee (COPRO) is composed of four members representing the business, agricultural, and academic sectors of the Canton of Fribourg. Supported by the coordination team, the Committee is responsible for defining and implementing the strategy's activities, as well as shaping its long-term vision and business plan in collaboration with the Steering Committee (a delegation of the Cantonal Government).
The COPRO members are also responsible for evaluating funding applications and monitoring the projects supported through Fribourg Agri&Food's funding schemes.
Jerry Krattiger (COPRO)
Director of the Economic Promotion Agency of the Canton of Fribourg
Jerry Krattiger, the son and grandson of hoteliers, nephew of two butchers, and brother of a pastry chef and confectioner, has been immersed in the world of food and hospitality since childhood. Choosing a different path from the family tradition, he studied political science, earned an Executive MBA, and built extensive experience in entrepreneurship.
After a career spanning investment banking, technology entrepreneurship, and intercultural exchange, he became Director of the Economic Promotion Agency of the Canton of Fribourg in 2019. Despite his unconventional career path, he has never strayed far from his roots and is probably one of the economic promotion directors in Switzerland who speaks most passionately about food.
This is no coincidence: thanks to its strengths in the bioeconomy, its high concentration of agricultural producers and food processing companies, and its six PDO products, the Canton of Fribourg has developed an outstanding agri-food ecosystem. Since taking office, Jerry Krattiger has played a key role in establishing Fribourg Agri&Food. He also serves as Vice-President of the Cluster Food & Nutrition and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley.
Katharina M. Fromm (COPRO)
Rector of the University of Fribourg
Katharina M. Fromm is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Fribourg and an internationally recognised expert in inorganic chemistry. After studying chemistry and chemical engineering, she completed postdoctoral research in Jean-Marie Lehn's supramolecular chemistry laboratory in Strasbourg. Supported by prestigious research fellowships, she established her own research groups in Karlsruhe and Basel before joining the University of Fribourg in 2006, where she teaches chemistry in German, French, and English.
Her research spans a wide range of topics, including the antimicrobial properties of silver-based compounds, nanomaterials for next-generation batteries, optical chemical sensors, responsive polymers, electron transfer mechanisms across bacterial membranes, and bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
From 2011 to 2019, she served as a member and Vice-President of the Research Council of the Swiss National Science Foundation. She is currently the Rector of the University of Fribourg.
Pascal Toffel (COPRO)
Director of Grangeneuve
Pascal Toffel is an agricultural engineer (ETH Zurich) specialising in animal production and has been Director of Grangeneuve since September 2015. Before taking on this role, he worked for Provimi Kliba in animal nutrition and for the Swiss Vegetable Producers Association (VSGP). He also managed Swiss granum, the interprofessional organisation representing the cereals, oilseeds, and protein crops sectors. Fluent in German and Swiss German, he also holds a Federal Diploma as a Marketing Specialist.
Grangeneuve is a key partner in the Canton of Fribourg's agri-food strategy, promoting research and technological innovation to improve practices across agriculture, food production, natural resource management, and home economics, while helping address environmental challenges. The institution fosters teamwork, interdisciplinary collaboration, and knowledge sharing to create synergies and develop sustainable, innovative solutions.
Jacques Genoud (COPRO)
Director General of HES-SO Fribourg
Jacques Genoud is an economist and engineer with a strong belief in the power of meaningful technological innovation. Holding a Master's degree in Economics alongside a solid engineering background, he gained extensive experience at Siemens and Nokia Siemens, where he contributed to major organisational projects within an international business environment.
Since 2016, as Director General of HES-SO Fribourg, Jacques Genoud has led several universities of applied sciences, including the Schools of Engineering and Architecture, Business, Health, and Social Work. He is responsible for defining the institution's strategic vision and governance, overseeing the implementation of its strategy, supervising the directors of the four schools, and managing relations with the Canton of Fribourg and the HES-SO Rectorate.
With more than 20 years of management experience, Jacques Genoud is a committed leader who thrives on bringing multidisciplinary organisations together to achieve shared success. His passion for technological innovation, combined with his expertise in economics and engineering, makes him a key contributor to higher education, applied research, and innovation in the Canton of Fribourg.
Fribourg Agri&Food: Early Results Point to a Promising Future
On 28 April, three members of the Council of State and representatives of the strategic team came together at a press conference to present the first results of the Canton of Fribourg's ambitious agri-food strategy.
Launch of the Future Food Farming Innovation Booster
After supporting more than 45 disruptive ideas through the Swiss Food Ecosystems Innovation Booster, funded by Innosuisse, the Swiss Agro Food Leadinghouse association, jointly led by the Cluster Food & Nutrition and Swiss Food Research, is launching a new initiative: the Innovation Booster Future Food Farming.
Go-to-Market at the Street Food Festival
Over the course of three days at the Street Food Festival, the Go-to-Market – Consumer Insights service engaged visitors through an interactive stand designed to explore how consumers respond to price transparency and perceived fairness.
Go-to-Market at the Goûts & Terroirs Fair
From 1 to 5 November, the Go-to-market service took part in the Goûts & Terroirs Fair, where it conducted consumer testing with visitors.
Consumer Testing of NOULA Burrata
Recently, NOULA, a pioneer in producing mozzarella and burrata made from milk sourced in the canton of Fribourg, partnered with the Go-to-market service to test two of its products with consumers in real-life conditions.
Fribourg Agri&Food at the Goûts & Terroirs Fair
The Goûts & Terroirs Fair, held from 30 October to 3 November at Espace Gruyère in Bulle, welcomed more than 45,000 visitors eager to discover the flavours of the region and explore the latest agri-food innovations. At the heart of this flagship event, Fribourg Agri&Food showcased its commitment to local innovation through a dedicated stand highlighting regional initiatives and the support services available to businesses across the agri-food value chain.
Champi+: Strengthening Local Mushroom Farming While Promoting Better Health
What if Swiss-grown mushrooms could become the key to combining nutrition, innovation, and sustainability?
Fribourg Mozzarella and Burrata
How can you quickly test your innovation in the market? Discover how the young company NOULA used our Go-to-market service.
Consumer Testing: A Successful First Go-to-Market Experience
At Fribourg Agri&Food, our mission is to actively support the development of innovative products, services, and business models in the agri-food sector. But what does that look like in practice?
Showcasing Fribourg's Agri-Food Innovation
Innovation, sustainability, and collaboration took center stage at Fribourg Agri&Food's press conference, which brought together key players from Fribourg's agri-food ecosystem this Wednesday at HEIA-FR.
Consumer Testing and Product Tastings: Three Fribourg Agri&Food-Supported Companies at the Goûts & Terroirs Fair
At the Goûts & Terroirs Fair, Fribourg Agri&Food showcased three Fribourg-based companies that presented—and, for some, tested—their products with the public through its dedicated agri-food innovation support services.
Fribourg Agri&Food Services in Action at the Technology Hall
More than 70 agri-food stakeholders gathered at Grangeneuve to discover firsthand the services and support offered by Fribourg Agri&Food.