Agroecology Switzerland: Sustainable from farm to fork

The Swiss agricultural system still faces challenges in becoming sustainable. For example, most environmental targets have not been met, farm incomes are still low compared to other Swiss salaries, and the workload of many farmers is above average. The concept of agroecology tries to transform both the agroecosystem and the food system to become more sustainable. In this project, we are trying to put the concept of agroecology into practice with 40 selected farms and several hundred consumers. The farms can choose from a range of measures to become more agroecological. Their performance will be assessed using a wide range of indicators, such as greenhouse gas emissions, soil structure, income, or workload. The environmental performance of the farms will be rewarded with results-based payments. Each farm will be linked to a number of consumers, who will visit the farm on a regular basis. Consumers will take measures to reduce the environmental impact of their diet, reduce food waste, and eat healthier. The project only started in July 2024. So far, the farms have been recruited and initial data collection has been carried out.