21 - Nutrient reduction pathway: sustainable use of nutrients in the Swiss agricultural system

Programme manager:

Programme director:

Objective

Through effective, integrated communication with as many stakeholders as possible, to provide scientific guidance and support to decision makers, advisors and ultimately farms in order to reduce nutrient losses and thus achieve the goals of the reduction pathway. The evaluation and further development of nutrient balancing, regional modelling and economic and sustainability impact assessments will be a major part of this.

• Specific objectives

  • Further develop the Principles of Agricultural Crop Fertilisation in Switzerland (GRUD/PRIF) and nutrient balancing, including site- and/or yield-adapted needs-based fertiliser application as the basis for practical workability and to reduce the administrative burden.
  • Improve communication between scientists and practitioners, consultants, legal enforcement tasks and policy makers in the field of agricultural nutrient use (efficiency).
  • Provide and evaluate measures aimed at reducing N and P losses and increasing efficiency, taking into account different cropping strategies, production systems (organic, IP, etc) and crop groups (field, forage, vegetable, etc.). Where possible: evaluate tools for reducing ammonia emissions and for current fertiliser application practices such as precision application of fertiliser (synergies with diverse work programmes).
  • 15
  • 16
  • Use and further develop nutrient balancing (national, regional, on-farm and local). Integrate the nutrient balance into economic assessments and life cycle assessments. Where possible, review the basic principles which are factored into balancing, such as average nutrient contents of products and yields (e.g. based on the feed base).
  • Scientific monitoring of water protection projects (N and P) as per the Federal Act on Agriculture (LwG) and spatial modelling of material flows for Switzerland and project-related catchment areas and regions. Where possible: quantify N and P flows, including food production, transport and food consumption (human), as well as waste water treatment. Compare at European and international level.
  • Evaluate measures using life cycle assessments, economic assessments, as well as the social and political implications.
  • 19

Expected outcomes

Resource-efficient, site-adapted and sustainable livestock and crop production is achieved, and with it the objectives of the nutrient reduction path. This supports the switch to a more sustainable management of N and P in agriculture. Concerted consultation, coordination and communication between the federal agencies (primarily the FOAG), interested bodies, legislative bodies and farmers involved are prioritised to ensure that the measures achieve a high level of acceptance and produce (synergy) effects. Close cooperation between practitioners, legislative bodies and research is accomplished through the joint operation of the ‘Substance Flows’ Experimental Station and highlighted by the joint presence of many of the above-mentioned stakeholders.

Projects

Read more