Swiss government proposes more freedom for farmers from 2030

Switzerland’s Federal Council has presented plans to give farmers more flexibility from 2030 while making the agricultural and food sectors more sustainable, SRF reported. The proposals are intended to reduce administrative work for farmers and strengthen food security.

For the first time, the government says it wants to consider the entire food chain, from fields, meadows, orchards and vegetable gardens to shop shelves and consumers’ plates. It plans to involve the food industry, retailers and customers through agreements and information.

Digitalisation, research and targeted direct payments are intended to support more sustainable farming. These payments could reward improved animal welfare, healthier soils and greater biodiversity. Federal President and Agriculture Minister Guy Parmelin said the system would gradually shift from payments based on measures taken to payments based on results.

The policy is also intended to address supply challenges linked to geopolitical tensions. Parmelin said climate change, highlighted by this summer’s heat, could turn what is currently an exception into the norm. The government said agricultural policy had for more than 20 years supported measures to help farming adapt, including irrigation investments, projects to improve soil fertility and the development of heat-resistant varieties.

The Swiss Small Farmers Association and political parties including the Swiss People’s Party and the Social Democratic Party have expressed scepticism in initial reactions. Eva Goldmann, an agricultural expert at WWF, criticised the use of short-term measures such as hay imports from Canada, saying they were not a long-term solution.

The Federal Council has not ruled out additional measures to help agriculture respond to climate change. Its proposals will now go through a consultation process scheduled to run until the beginning of December.