Phages for Agriculture

Professor Carmen Jungo Rhême is working with her team on phages for agriculture. The project aims to create a sustainable biocontrol method by isolating local bacteriophages to fight potato pathogens, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. Focusing on bacteria causing blackleg and soft rot (Pectobacterium and Dickeya) in the canton of Fribourg, the project will establish phage isolation techniques, collect phages from contaminated sites, and conduct initial laboratory evaluations. The expected outcome is a foundation for ecological pest control and agro-tech innovation.

Read the article by Pierre Cormon, published on October 21, 2025, in L’Entreprise Romande (https://www.heia-fr.ch/media/ze2bzdrw/er_2025-10-31_bacteriophages.pdf)