What are the most demanding current issues and future challenges in Swiss agriculture?

The Swiss population calls for an agricultural sector which meets market demands and operates in an environmentally friendly way. Meadows and pasture make up a full three quarters of Swiss farmland, with cereals and vegetables being confined to the lowlands. About one third of farms are involved in crop production. While many Swiss people still have a romantic image of what agriculture in Switzerland should look like, changes that have occurred within and outside the country have had a great impact on Swiss agricultural. Today famers have to compete on the market and protection against international competition has been reduced. Small fields – high cost, what other challenges is Swiss Agriculture facing? 

One of the biggest issues in Swiss agriculture will be to face and to deal with the consequences of climate change. Even though the scenarios vary according to the different climate models, climate change is now accepted as a fact and the discussion is now centred on strategies and solutions to adapt.

Until 2030 an average increase of +2°C in temperature is expected. This would not yet cause big problems for the Swiss agriculture, since we’re in a rather cold climate zone. The growing season would even be prolonged by a couple of days and cultures with a greater potential yield could be grown. But there are other expected changes, too. There will be less precipitation in summer, which would mostly affect the areas that are already very dry, such as the Wallis. What could make it problematic for the whole of Switzerland is, if there will be high fluctuations. And this is what we have witnessed over the last few years.

The probability of extremely high temperatures and drought in summer is rising. By differing the date of sowing and choosing other species/breeds for cultivation, some adjustment can be done. But the risk of crop losses due to heat damage is increasing. Also other extreme climate events became more frequent. Increased erosion, the loss of fertile soil and storms are other demanding issues.

Furthermore the production costs will increase through augmented irrigation, pest and weed control. And this is another great challenge for Swiss agriculture:

In Switzerland, insects (pests) and weeds (pest plants) are profiting from the climate change, mainly when winters become milder. In addition to that, globalisation entailed the exchange and introduction of organisms. As a consequence, a growing number of newly introduced pests and diseases are now also threatening the crop yields in Swiss agriculture.

New solutions have to be found to combat these pests and diseases, and an even greater challenge arises, when these organisms develop resistances to the applied pesticides.

At the same time, as was mentioned in the introduction, Swiss farmers, as well as all the farmers of industrial countries, are under the pressure to reduce CO₂  emissions caused by the modern production methods and to help preserve biodiversity.

Swiss agriculture and climate change:

http://www.project21.ch/projekte/studiosus/studiosus-12/437-113

Swiss agriculture and ecology:

http://www.agroscope.admin.ch/forschung/00237/index.html?lang=de