Future Pasture
The Swiss food system is facing major ecological and socioeconomic challenges. The stakeholders in the value network are not only under financial pressure but are also subject to growing social demands. Plus – from an ecological perspective, six of the nine planetary boundaries have already been breached. At national level too, there has been a failure to meet environmental goals that are strongly linked to agriculture. For a viable ecosystem, we need a paradigm change – from sustainability to regeneration.
Good starting point
The fact that many of the relevant initiatives do not move beyond postulated targets is not down to a lack of knowledge or skills. Switzerland has a large number of excellent stakeholders as well as research, agricultural and consulting organisations – and, not least, a major network of committed funding bodies. In short, the technical and monetary resources required to design and implement a viable food system are there. But the food sector is not just relevant when it comes to food security. Agriculture, in particular, is essential where ecological impact and system planning are concerned, as it interacts directly with the ecosystem. This is therefore where we can achieve the greatest causal leverage on the environment.
Differentiated view needed
Livestock farming is often at the heart of public and academic debate. Cattle farming, in particular, is said to have a serious, negative impact on the ecosystem. People tend to talk about milk and meat production in homogeneous terms, making very little differentiation. However, livestock and feeding systems differ enormously – and the degree of intensification also affects the ecological and socioeconomic impact. Extremes of public opinion range from calls for intensive indoor housing for livestock to calls to abstain from meat altogether. Both perspectives lack an understanding of nutrient cycles and crop rotation, of the systemic correlations between livestock farming and species diversity, and of production that has been adapted to its location and the available resources.
Targeted support
From an agricultural, cultural and socio-ecological standpoint, livestock farming will continue to play a significant role where sustainable or regenerative food systems are concerned. It is important, however, that its parameters are properly defined. The aforementioned polarisation does not benefit anyone. Instead, we need to research, plan and promote the potential of regenerative livestock farming and its value network.
Positive impact
Pasture-based ruminant livestock farming has a predominantly positive impact at ecological subsystem level on biodiversity, soil health, soil fertility, soil conservation and water regulation. Pasture managed by ruminants is better protected against climate extremes.
Three key requirements for a viable Swiss food system are, therefore:
- Better networking among stakeholders to pool forces, use synergies and work on joint solutions.
- Concrete support for the implementation of impact-based projects according to a suitable logic model, and measurement of their success on the basis of holistic KPIs tailored to the stakeholders.
- Increased public and political awareness of the huge potential and the important positive systemic effects of pasture-based ruminant livestock production systems. And add to that the monetisation of ecosystem services. Because, at the end of the day, the future of our food system depends on whether our society can succeed in ensuring that producers are paid fairly for their services to society.
Added to this is the monetisation of ecosystem services. Ultimately, the future of our food system depends on whether our society succeeds in remunerating producers appropriately for their social services.
