New production facility will support the evolution of fermentation-based food systems in Switzerland

The construction of the new building dedicated to the production of Liebefeld Kulturen AG marks a key milestone for the future of Swiss cheese cultures. The building will be equipped with state-of-the-art technological infrastructure. The site will open in spring 2028.

The new building intended for the future production of Liebefeld Kulturen® will be erected on the site of the Grangeneuve competence centre, just a few hundred metres from the new Agroscope campus in Posieux. On 19 January, the groundbreaking ceremony officially marked the start of construction works, in the presence of representatives from Liebefeld Kulturen AG, the Canton of Fribourg and Agroscope.

A broadly supported collaboration

The new building, with an estimated cost of around CHF 20 million, is being developed and financed by the private company Liebefeld Kulturen AG, supported by the Swiss dairy and cheese sector.

The building, covering approximately 1,500 m² over three floors, will house production facilities, laboratories, warehouses, offices, as well as social and technical rooms, all equipped with cutting-edge technological infrastructure. Once completed in spring 2028, it will also accommodate around ten Agroscope employees.

This project is part of the ongoing development of the Agroscope Grangeneuve campus and the national competence centre for raw milk dairy products and foodstuffs.

Connecting R&D with practical application

This new building ensures that the Swiss cheese and food sector will continue to benefit from Liebefeld Kulturen®, which are recognised for their quality. More than 500 cheese dairies across Switzerland use these cultures to produce iconic cheeses such as Gruyère, Emmentaler, Appenzeller, Vacherin Fribourgeois and many others. A significant increase in capacity in the field of freeze-dried cultures will also enable the production of new innovative products. Proximity to Agroscope ensures that research and development remain directly and continuously linked to practical application.

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