The sustainability of agriculture is determined on the basis of various agri-environmental indicators. Agroscope is responsible for method development as well as for the central analysis of agri-environmental indicators.
Based on the ‘Ordinance concerning the Evaluation of the Sustainability of Agriculture' (SR 919.118), the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) carries out monitoring to determine the impact of agriculture on the environment, as well as to highlight problem areas, or recognise them in a timely fashion.
The results of the AEM serve as a knowledge basis for policy-makers, as information for the public, and as a basis of comparison with other countries.