What are Farms in Switzerland Doing to Preserve Biodiversity?
Photo: Véronique Chevillat,
FiBL
To prevent biodiversity decline, Swiss farms are implementing 19.3% of their utilised agricultural area as ecological focus areas (EFA). It appears that organic farms implement considerably more and qualitatively better EFAs than do PEP farms.
Although farms manage an average 17.6% (19.3% with trees) of their utilised agricultural area (UAA) as ecological focus areas (EFAs), biodiversity decline is particularly pronounced in the Swiss cultivated landscape. The reasons for this are inadequate ecological quality, implementation at unsuitable locations, non-target-oriented management of the EFAs and the intensive cultivation of the crops. The present study investigated how Proof of Ecological Performance (PEP) and organically managed cultivation systems differed in terms of the implementation of EFAs between 2015 and 2020.
High biodiversity services of organic farms compared to PEP farms
The comprehensive comparison of the EFAs of all farms entitled to direct payments shows that organic farms implement significantly more and also more valuable EFAs than PEP farms. In 2020, they managed an average 26.8% of their UAA as EFAs, whilst the figure was 15.9% for PEP farms. The share of ecologically valuable EFAs was higher for organic farms, which had more EFA QIIs (15.0%) and more EFAs that met the agri-environmental objectives (AEOs) (15.3%) than PEP farms, for which the share was just 8.8% and 9.1%, respectively. The detailed analysis of the EFA types showed that organic farms managed more and qualitatively better EFA-QIIs in grassland, more EFAs in grapevine cultivation, more high-stem fruit trees and more hedgerows than did PEP farms. In 2020, 16.7% of all farms were managed organically. These organic farms were responsible for 27.3% of all EFAs in Switzerland. The generally higher implementation, especially of qualitatively valuable EFAs, indicates the higher biodiversity services provided by the organic farms, which are enhanced even further by their less intensive management (lower use of plant-protection products and nitrogen fertilisers).
Promotion of organic agriculture advantageous for achieving the environmental objectives
To achieve the AEOs in the area of biodiversity, Switzerland must promote organic agriculture in all agricultural zones much more strongly and in an evidence-based manner, and formulate clear targets, similar to those in the EU. Moreover, it needs additional requirements and incentives for ecologically valuable EFAs from both the federal government and labelling organisations. However, implementation will only succeed with better training of farm managers and with better knowledge transfer through competent, whole-farm biodiversity advice. Increasing the demands made of the agricultural sector is a responsibility that must be supported by all stakeholders in the value chain and accompanied by fair prices for products manufactured in a nature- and environment-friendly manner.
Conclusions
- In 2020, the average share of EFAs out of UAA on organic farms was 26.8% compared to 15.8% of PEP farms.
- In 2020 the share of qualitatively valuable EFAs as defined by the AEOs reached an average of 15.3% on organic farms and 9.1% on PEP farms. The AEO area target across all regions is 16%. None of the cultivation systems reached the AEO area targets in the respective agricultural zones.
- Organic farms manage significantly more EFA QIIs in grassland, more EFAs under vine and more high-stem fruit trees and hedgerows than do PEP farms.
- Significantly more organic agriculture is needed in the landscape to achieve the AEOs. Given the extensive evidence of the benefits of organic farming, it is part of the solution and also results in lower environmental impacts from plant-protection products and nutrients.
Bibliographical reference
Was leisten Landwirtschaftsbetriebe in der Schweiz für die Erhaltung der Biodiversität?.
