Agriculture New report shows: Swiss agriculture is becoming more environmentally aware

A recent federal report shows that Swiss farmers are increasingly using environmentally friendly methods. They are increasingly refraining from using pesticides and promoting soil fertility.

The latest agricultural report from the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) emphasizes that Swiss agriculture is making significant progress towards more environmentally friendly production. Farmers are ready to face the challenges associated with reducing pesticide risks.

Since the beginning of 2023, the new direct payment programs have been used intensively. These programs support farmers who want to avoid the use of pesticides, improve the fertility of their soil or put their livestock out to pasture more often.

In 2023, 19% of arable land, vineyards and orchards on farms did not use herbicides. In addition, around 14,000 farms did not use fungicides or insecticides on 102,000 hectares of arable land. The FOAG describes this development as encouraging in the Agricultural Report 2024.

Challenges and outlook

Despite these positive developments, protecting crops without certain plant protection products remains a challenge. However, a look back over the last 30 years shows that the environmental impact of agriculture has decreased overall. Nevertheless, there is still a need for action, particularly with regard to nitrogen emissions and greenhouse gases.

SDA