AGRICULTURE
14 % direct emissions in Switzerland
Apple harvest in Thurgau
Photo: Adobe Stock
Around 38% of Earth’s total land area is used for intensive agricultural food production. Food production causes greenhouse gas emissions – from land clearing and cultivation to fertilisation, animal farming, processing, packaging, transport, refrigeration and disposal.
In addition, up to a third of the food produced ends up as waste: during processing, in retail (industrial food waste) and through waste in private households. Food waste in Switzerland amounts to approximately 310 kg per person per year (as of 2024). This means that a great deal of energy and raw materials are wasted along the entire production chain, placing a burden on the environment without adding any value.
WHAT DOES NET ZERO LOOK LIKE IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR?
- Land use changes (e.g., deforestation of primeval forests) are severely restricted and well controlled.
- Farmers use regenerative methods. This improves soil health and allows the soil to store more CO₂.
- The production of animal-based foods (especially red meat and dairy products) is reduced. The remaining animals are fed in such a way that they emit less greenhouse gases during digestion. As a result, livestock farming requires less land for feed cultivation and less transport.
- The consumption of water, agrochemicals (e.g. fertilisers, pesticides) and energy is minimised through computer-controlled precision farming and robust varieties.
- Innovative production technologies such as lab-grown meat or aquaculture systems (vertical farming) save land and resources.
NECESSARY SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MEASURES
- Governments provide legislation and subsidies to support farmers in transitioning to more sustainable methods.
- The measurement of emissions in agriculture is standardised and factored into food prices.
- Laws require retailers to promote the consumption of lower-emission foods, e.g., through targeted campaigns and advantageous presentation (nudging).
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR SOCIETY
- Diversity in sustainable agriculture, such as combining agriculture and livestock farming, makes farms more resilient, e.g., to extreme weather conditions. This strengthens food security.
- Healthier nutrition: lower meat consumption and a varied, more plant-based diet promote good health.
HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?
- Don’t waste food: you can significantly reduce food waste by shopping consciously (e.g., buying ‘ugly’ vegetables), storing food properly and using up leftovers.
- Limit your consumption of animal products (especially red meat and dairy products) and eat more plant-based foods.
- Look for seasonal and local foods. In many cases, this can reduce emissions.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ALONG THE FOOD PRODUCTION CHAIN
Graphic: Our World in Data (modif.)
PLANT-BASED PROTEINS
Animal protein can increasingly be replaced by alternative protein sources. Numerous innovative companies are developing vegan meat alternatives – a rapidly growing premium segment in the food market.
Photo: Adobe Stock
VERTICAL FARMING
Zurich has vertical farms that produce healthy, pesticide-free crops all year round. This is made possible by automation and data-driven precision farming (e.g., drip irrigation for optimal nutrient supply).
Photo: Adobe Stock
REVOLUTION WITH MICROALGAE
With their high protein and nutrient content, microalgae have the potential to revolutionise food production. Researchers at ETH Zurich are developing innovative microalgae processing technologies.
Photo: Fengzheng Gao (ETH Zurich)
RICE CULTIVATION IN RE-WETTED WETLANDS
Drainage of wetlands creates fertile agricultural land, but also results in high CO₂ emissions. Rewetting these areas reduces emissions. Since 2017, Agroscope has been conducting research into wet rice cultivation in northern Switzerland on newly flooded land.
Photo: Natascha Hedrich
BIOCHAR AS CO₂ STORAGE
Mixing biochar (plant charcoal) into the soil improves its quality and allows it to retain more moisture and nutrients. The carbon (C) contained in the charcoal, which originally came from CO₂ in the air, is stored in the soil.
Photo: ANGHI (iStock)