Bachelor’s and Master’s Theses
Finished Theses 2016 - 2025
We are looking forward to supervise students for their Bachelor and Master theses. Please find proposals for Bachelor’s or Master’s Theses from our group in the lists below. Do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information.
Anleitung zum Verfassen wissenschaftliche Arbeiten Download PDF (PDF, 51 KB)
Please find details on the Declaration of Originality and the Citation Etiquette here
ETH Zürich is using SiROP to publish scientific projects. With your university login you get free access to internships, scientific projects, Bachelor’s and Master’s theses. For more information please visit external page www.sirop.org.
Open Topics
For master theses, also bilateral agreements on thesis topics can be made. Please contact Prof. Dr. Robert Finger directly for further information (Email: ).
Note that we cannot take over the supervision of topics defined with third parties and that have not been discussed with us beforehand.
Absatzförderung für Hülsenfrüchte: Mechanismen und Potenziale
Die Bachelorarbeit untersucht die Absatzförderung in der Schweiz vor dem Hintergrund der Herausforderungen für die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit von Hülsenfrüchten aufgrund hoher Produktionskosten und fehlendem Grenzschutz. Ziel ist es, die Funktionsweise der Absatzförderung, die Auswahl geförderter Produkte sowie die Potenziale für die Aufnahme von Hülsenfrüchten zu analysieren.
Keywords
Nachhaltige Ernährung; Agrarpolitik; Absatzförderung; Hülsenfrüchte
Labels
Bachelor Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2025-06-17 , Earliest start: 2025-01-12 , Latest end: 2025-02-01
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-USYS
Hosts Finger Robert, Dr.
Topics Economics
Analyse von Schweizer Agrarmärkten
Beschreibung und ökonomische Interpretation der Marktordnung eines Schweizer Agrarmarktes
Keywords
Agrarmärkte, Wertschöpfungskette, Marktordnung
Labels
Bachelor Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2025-06-13 , Earliest start: 2021-11-15 , Latest end: 2022-12-31
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-USYS
Hosts Huber Robert
Topics Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences
Master Thesis Economics of spatial and temporal information for improving nitrogen efficiency in agriculture.
Background Switzerland has ambitious goals to reduce nitrogen surpluses in agriculture. An important mechanism in this context is to improve nitrogen efficiency. In this context, new technologies such as precision farming, and remote sensing and new sensors can provide better information on nutrient availability in the field. In the past, these efforts were mainly focused on improving spatial application patterns. This thesis aims to also include the temporal application pattern, i.e. when to apply fertilizer. Such spatial and temporal information can help farmers avoid nitrogen losses by applying the right amount of fertilizer at the right time and place to meet crop needs. Soil health sensors (such as those developed by Digit Soil) can provide additional information about the timing of fertilizer application. Combining spatial and temporal information about fertilizer application could improve nitrogen efficiency in crop production and contribute to a more sustainable agricultural sector. Research questions ● What are the economic costs and benefits of knowing when to fertilize? ● How big is the potential to reduce fertilizing by using temporal information? ● What is the potential of spatial and temporal information for achieving nitrogen efficiency goals in Swiss agriculture?
Labels
Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2025-06-12 , Earliest start: 2025-09-01 , Latest end: 2026-12-31
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-MTEC
Hosts Finger Robert, Dr.
Topics Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences , Economics
Master thesis: Crop protection in organic and non-organic pesticide-free arable farming
Pesticide-free (non-organic) crop production is currently gaining ground in European agriculture as a new alternative pathway between conventional and organic farming. To successfully produce crops without using pesticides, farmers must adopt sustainable crop protection measures, e.g., following the principles of integrated crop protection (IPM) or agroecological crop protection (ACP). Even though both production systems, i.e., pesticide-free non-organic and organic, work without pesticides, the alternative crop protection measures used may differ between organic and non-organic farms. To date, little is known about potential differences between farming systems without pesticides regarding the adoption of alternative crop protection strategies.
Keywords
crop protection, pesticide-free, organic, integrated pest management (IPM), wheat, maize, Switzerland
Labels
Master Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2025-06-12 , Earliest start: 2025-02-02 , Latest end: 2026-01-22
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-MTEC
Hosts Akter Sharmin
Topics Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences
Bachelor thesis: Literature review of the effect of soil erosion risk on farming
Healthy soil is essential of agriculture and a key resource for meeting 21st-century human needs such as food, feed, fiber, clean water, and clean air (Amundson et al., 2015). However, soil degradation is a major problem for agriculture globally. Agriculture significantly contributes to soil degradation due to its reliance on resource-intensive practices, such as overgrazing (see Borrelli et al., 2017, and references therein). From a theoretical perspective, soil erosion can have a dual effect on agricultural production. On one hand, it degrades soil quality, reducing the effectiveness of land and other inputs, such as fertilizers, and subsequently lowering agricultural output. On the other hand, at higher levels of soil erosion, farmers may adopt advanced technologies that enable more efficient use of land and inputs, allowing them to adapt to ongoing erosion risks and potentially increasing agricultural output. Thus, the net effect of soil erosion on production depends on whether the negative impacts outweigh the positive adaptations or vice versa. Given its importance, a literature review of the effect of soil erosion on agricultural production and in particular in dairy farming is essential for understanding how agricultural production can adapt to erosion. Keywords: Dairy farming, soil erosion, sustainability
Keywords
Dairy farming, soil erosion
Labels
Bachelor Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2025-06-03
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-MTEC
Hosts Parikoglou Iordanis
Topics Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences , Economics
Master thesis: The effect of soil erosion risk on Swiss dairy production
Healthy soil is essential of agriculture and a key resource for meeting 21st-century human needs such as food, feed, fiber, clean water, and clean air (Amundson et al., 2015). However, soil degradation is a major problem for agriculture globally but also in Switzerland. Agriculture significantly contributes to soil degradation due to its reliance on resource-intensive practices, such as overgrazing (see Borrelli et al., 2017, and references therein). From a theoretical perspective, soil erosion can have a dual effect on agricultural production. On one hand, it degrades soil quality, reducing the effectiveness of land and other inputs, such as fertilizers, and subsequently lowering agricultural output. On the other hand, at higher levels of soil erosion, farmers may adopt advanced technologies that enable more efficient use of land and inputs, allowing them to adapt to ongoing erosion risks and potentially increasing agricultural output. Thus, the net effect of soil erosion on production depends on whether the negative impacts outweigh the positive adaptations or vice versa. The relevance of soil erosion and production also holds for dairy production in Switzerland, e.g. due to the relevance of on farm feed production. Despite its importance, there is a lack of farm-level studies examining the dynamics of soil erosion within the production structure of dairy farming. Addressing this gap could provide valuable policy insights for promoting sustainable farming practices to mitigate soil erosion.
Keywords
Dairy farming, soil erosion, Swiss agriculture, sustainability
Labels
Master Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2025-06-03 , Earliest start: 2025-01-01 , Latest end: 2027-01-01
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-MTEC
Hosts Parikoglou Iordanis
Topics Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences , Economics
Betriebliche Optimierungsmodelle in der Schweizer Landwirtschaft
Basierend auf Ihren Kenntnissen aus der Vorlesung «Optimierung landwirtschaftlicher Produktionssysteme» erstellen Sie ein Optimierungsmodell in Excel oder R und beantworten damit eine von Ihnen erarbeitete Forschungsfrage.
Keywords
Optimierung, Schweizer Landwirtschaft, Lineare Programmierung
Labels
Bachelor Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2025-05-16 , Earliest start: 2019-11-01 , Latest end: 2020-12-31
Applications limited to ETH Zurich
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-USYS
Hosts Huber Robert
Topics Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences , Mathematical Sciences , Economics
Bottlenecks in Climate Change Adaptation for Arable Crop Farming
This master thesis examines the bottlenecks in climate change adaptation for arable crop farming, with a focus on the behavioral and socioeconomic factors. By analyzing survey data from 700 farms in Germany, it aims to identify the key barriers to effective uptake of adaptation measures and provide insights for developing more efficient and targeted strategies to enhance agricultural resilience to climate change.
Keywords
Climate Change Adaptation, Arable Crop Farming, Agriculture, Resilience, Adaptation Strategies
Labels
Master Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2025-03-13 , Earliest start: 2025-03-13
Applications limited to Agroscope , ETH Zurich , University of Zurich
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-MTEC
Hosts Stetter Christian
Topics Economics
Is Reducing Livestock Populations Necessary for Achieving Low-Emission Agriculture?
Livestock farming is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within agriculture, raising the question of whether reducing livestock populations is essential for achieving low-emission agriculture. This thesis examines whether such reductions are a necessary condition and identifies bottleneck levels of livestock counts for given GHG emission targets. Using Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA), the research also explores the potential of alternative mitigation strategies, such as feed optimization, manure management, and technological innovations.
Keywords
Climate Change Mitigation, Livestock Farming, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Low-Carbon Agriculture, Sustainable Food Systems
Labels
Master Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2025-03-13
Applications limited to Agroscope , ETH Zurich , University of Zurich
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-MTEC
Hosts Stetter Christian
Topics Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences , Economics
Direktdemokratische Instrumente als Treiber einer nachhaltigen Ernährungspolitik in der Schweiz?
Die Bachelorarbeit untersucht, wie Volksinitiativen und Referenden in der Schweiz die Agrar- und Ernährungspolitik beeinflussen und zur Transformation des Ernährungssystems beitragen. Im Fokus steht, inwiefern direktdemokratische Instrumente die Nachhaltigkeitsdimensionen – ökonomische, ökologische und soziale – im Ernährungssystem beeinflussen. Durch eine qualitative Analyse von Volksinitiativen und politischen Debatten wird aufgezeigt, wie Zielkonflikte zwischen diesen Dimensionen entstehen und welche politischen Anpassungsprozesse durch die direkte Demokratie angestossen werden.
Keywords
Nachhaltige Ernährung, Agrarpolitik, Direkte Demokratie
Labels
Bachelor Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2025-03-13
Applications limited to Agroscope , ETH Zurich , University of Zurich
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-MTEC
Hosts Stetter Christian
Topics Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences , Economics
Behavioral drivers of climate change adaptation in crop farming
Agriculture is widely recognized as one of the most vulnerable sectors to the adverse effects of climate change, which is particularly true for arable farming. Projections indicate that these effects will worsen in the coming decades. Farmers will have to adapt to the changing climate. Multiple climate change adaptation strategies have been suggested over the last decades, including, e.g., diversification, conservation tillage or crop insurance. However, little is known about the behavioral factors influencing the adoption of such strategies. This master thesis aims to investigate the influence of farmers’ behavioral characteristics on the uptake of climate change adaptation measures in the context of German arable farming.
Keywords
Clilmate change adaptation, arable farming, behavioral economics, decision-making
Labels
Master Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2025-03-06 , Earliest start: 2022-12-09
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-MTEC
Hosts Stetter Christian
Topics Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences , Economics
Do extreme weather shocks amplify structural change in European agriculture?
Agriculture is widely recognized as one of the most vulnerable sectors to the adverse effects of climate change. This thesis aims to identify effects of weather shocks on farm structural indicators. It combines official statistics provided by the EU with meteorological data and provides causal estimates of weather shocks on farm structural indicators using econometric methods.
Keywords
Climate change, extreme weather, structural change, farm exits
Labels
Master Thesis
Description
Goal
Contact Details
More information
Published since: 2025-03-06 , Earliest start: 2023-05-15
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-MTEC
Hosts Stetter Christian
Topics Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences , Economics
Analyse der Schweizer AgriFood-Startup-Szene: Relevanz und Umsetzung ökologischer Nachhaltigkeit
Der Agrar- und Ernährungssektor muss die Nahrungsmittelproduktion steigern, um die wachsende Weltbevölkerung zu ernähren, steht aber gleichzeitig vor erheblichen Umweltproblemen. Innovative und nachhaltige Lösungen sind erforderlich, um das Ernährungssystem tiefgreifend zu transformieren, wobei Start-ups im Bereich AgriFoodTech eine Schlüsselrolle spielen. Auch die Schweizer AgriFood-Startup-Szene befindet sich im Aufschwung und bietet neue Möglichkeiten für eine nachhaltige Zukunft. Die Bachelorarbeit erarbeitet einen detaillierten Einblick in die Schweizer AgriFood Startup Landschaft, indem sie die genutzten Technologien, regionalen Hotspots und adressierten Marktsegmente analysiert. Zudem soll die Umsetzung ökologischer Nachhaltigkeit basierend auf dem Konzept planetarer Grenzen evaluiert werden, unter Verwendung der Schweizer Startup-Datenbank swiss.ch.
Keywords
AgriFoodTech, Startups, Landwirtschaft, Ernährung, Nachhaltigkeit
Labels
Bachelor Thesis
PLEASE LOG IN TO SEE DESCRIPTION
More information
Published since: 2025-03-06 , Earliest start: 2024-05-23
Organization Chair of Agricultural Economics and Policy D-MTEC
Hosts Stetter Christian
Topics Economics