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4.1. (...) Although agriculture plays a relatively minor and declining role in the Swiss economy, the sector is regarded as pivotal in terms of food security, and as a provider of positive externalities, such as environmental protection and the maintenance of cultural landscapes, which are highly valued by Swiss society.

4.6. (...) Fifty seven farms operate according to Swiss standards under the ecological performance requirements. Complying with such requirements, through a "proof of ecological performance" (PEP), is a condition for the receipt of direct payments. (...) Thirty eight farms practice organic farming according to the guidelines of Bio Suisse, which sets additional and stricter requirements on top of those of the PEP.

4.7. (...) Swiss agricultural policy pursues diverse objectives, namely sustainable and market oriented agricultural production that contributes to food security, protection of natural resources, landscape stewardship, decentralized settlement, and animal welfare. The overarching legal basis of Swiss agricultural policy is the Swiss Constitution (Article 104), which directs the Confederation to support the multi functionality of agriculture and delivery of public goods, inter alia, with direct payments linked to environmental cross-compliance.

4.8. In a 2017 referendum, the Swiss electorate adopted a new article on food security in the Swiss Constitution (Article 104a). It states that in order to guarantee the supply of food to the population, the Confederation shall create conditions for: (...) (ii) food production adapted to local conditions and using natural resources efficiently (...) (iv) cross-border trade relations that contribute to the sustainable development of the agricultural and food sector; and (v) using food in a way that conserves natural resources. (...)

4.9. Agricultural policy in Liechtenstein has the objective of achieving sustainable and market oriented production, in accordance with the Agriculture Act of 2008. (...)

4.10. The food supply industry in Switzerland has a significant carbon footprint. In 2018, it was responsible for 23% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by the economy as a whole. In addition, the largest share of total methane and nitrous oxide emissions were caused by agriculture, in particular from livestock farming and fertilizer use. During the review period, Switzerland increased efforts to further integrate sustainability measures into sectoral policies, including in agriculture. Furthermore, in June 2021, the Federal Council adopted its 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy, which sets out the path Switzerland intends to take to implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Strategy is an instrument to coordinate and increase coherence between policies to make sustainable development a core component of the numerous federal sectoral activities. The Federal Council in particular highlights the need for a food systems transformation through its priority area "sustainable consumption and production", which includes four objectives related to healthy and sustainable diets, consumption modes with regard to the reduction of GHG emissions, sustainable agricultural production, and reduction of food losses and waste.

4.11. On 27 January 2021, the Federal Council adopted the Long Term Climate Strategy for Switzerland, whose target for the agricultural and food sector is to bring the GHG footprint of the food sector in line with the net-zero target and to avoid any further transfers of GHG emissions abroad by 2050. According to the Strategy, by 2050, GHG emissions from domestic agricultural production are to be at least 40% below 1990 levels and Swiss agriculture should contribute at least 50% to the country's food supply.

4.12. Switzerland: (...) In February 2020, the Federal Council submitted to the Federal Assembly a draft single Agricultural Policy (AP) to be implemented from 2022 onwards (AP22+), along with a draft federal decree on financial resources for agriculture for the years 2022-25. The focus of the proposed strategy included measures to combat environmental pollution and to reduce the amount of resources used when farming. However, in December 2020, the Council of States decided to suspend work on AP22+. (...)

4.13. (...) An initiative "for clean drinking water" and an initiative "for a Switzerland free of synthetic pesticides" were rejected by Swiss voters on 13 June 2021. In this context, the Parliamentary Initiative "Reducing the risk of the use of pesticides" was prepared, with a view to integrating a reduction trajectory for the use of pesticides in Switzerland into legislation with target values for the risks arising from the use of pesticides and suggested adaptations to improve groundwater quality in relation to the degradation of products from pesticides (Section 4.1.3.1). On 17 September 2019, the popular initiative against mass animal husbandry was submitted. The Federal Council decided on 19 May 2021 to submit a counter proposal to the Federal Assembly.

4.14. A Soil Strategy was adopted by the Federal Council on 8 May 2020. It aims to preserve the fertility of the soil and to enable it to continue to perform its other services for society and the economy. The Strategy and a series of measures pursue the objective to halt any net loss of soil in Switzerland by 2050. On 6 September 2017, the Federal Council adopted the Action Plan for Risk Reduction and the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products. (...)