Nearly CHF 500 million invested in Fribourg’s pioneering AgriCo campus

The canton of Fribourg is investing nearly CHF 500 million in the development of the AgriCo campus to strengthen its position as a leader in the agri-food industry.

The Etablissement Cantonal de Promotion Foncière (ECPF) has announced the launch of a public tender for the infrastructure required to develop the AgriCo campus at St-Aubin in the Broye region. This campus, a pioneer in the agri-food sector, comprises 27 hectares of building land and around 100 hectares of agricultural land for large-scale trials. Public and private investments totaling nearly CHF 500 million include CHF 80 million for the ECPF and approximately CHF 400 million for a new Micarna poultry processing plant to replace the one in Courtepin.

The planned infrastructure, designed to meet the needs of the site for the next 30 to 40 years, includes a regional drinking water supply connection, an industrial wastewater treatment plant integrated with the regional wastewater treatment plant, and a mobility platform with silo parking and multimodal mobility infrastructure. A mobility infrastructure plan for the site entrance and integration of the public transport stop is also planned, with an architectural concept using “U” shaped modules, typical of the protected buildings on the site.

Construction will begin in the summer of 2025 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. Currently, the AgriCo campus is home to approximately thirty companies, providing approximately 120 jobs. Upon completion, this number will increase to more than 700, with an ultimate goal of 1,600 jobs.

In an official press release, State Councillor Olivier Curty, Chairman of the ECPF and Director of the Department of the Economy, Employment and Vocational Training, stressed the importance of this decisive step in the development of the site. André Schoenenweid, director of the EPCF, added that the projects are designed with respect for the environment, sustainable development and the circular economy.

The AgriCo campus, in collaboration with the Grangeneuve Agricultural Institute and the future Agroscope activities in Posieux, aims to create a strong axis for research and food production. The ECPF is mandated by the State Council to create jobs in the canton by acquiring land for the creation and development of companies and by assisting regions and municipalities in the development of business parks. The ECPF currently manages three sites: La Maillarde in Romont, Campus AgriCo in St-Aubin and Pré-aux-Moines in Marly.