The Swiss Agricultural Policy is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The overall goal of the Policy is to increase food production and agricultural trade at national and international level in an environmentally sustainable manner. Food supplies for the population will be ensured through the development in the agriculture sector. Ecological standards will be conformed in the agriculture sector to ensure sustainability for the future generations. Farmers and animal breeders will be encouraged to raise the quality of ecological zones such as extensive meadow-land, reed-beds, natural field margins, permanent flowery meadows and rotated fallow fields, hedges, crosses and wooded river banks and standard fruit trees. Ecosystem preservation will be ensured in protected areas to prevent loss of flora and fauna. Access by farmers to agricultural research and extension services will be improved to ensure a sustainable agricultural sector. Social structure in rural areas will be preserved through agricultural financial support. Particularly, additional financial support will be provided for farmers in upland and mountain areas to facilitate the more difficult farming conditions. A multifunctional agriculture will be enabled to meet the public's and market demands. First and foremost, public's demand for food quality and safety will be met and sustained. More efficient agricultural and food systems will be enabled by protecting environment, guaranteeing good quality food, ensuring food supplies, labelling and indication of origin, as well as ensuring animal welfare. Agricultural and food research will be strengthened to improve the quality and safety of farm produce as well as production methods. Traditional knowledge and innovation will be combined to ensure agricultural development. Land resources will be conserved to maintain high quality of life for the population, as well as to boost tourist industry. Environmentally friendly methods, such as appropriate proportion of ecological compensation areas, rational use of fertilisers, crop rotation, soil protection, economic and specific use of plant treatment products and animal welfare measures, will be adopted by farmers. To this end, ecofriendly production will be promoted in all farmlands by direct payments. As a particularly important branch of agriculture, dairy production will be supported to sustain cheese export. Furthermore import controls will be strengthened in order to promote home production. Public funds will be made available to improve basic production conditions and thereby farmers will be enforced to become more competitive.
Switzerland · 2004-01-01