Fewer nutrients are lost in Swiss agriculture
Published: Tuesday, Nov 28th 2023, 12:11
Updated At: Tuesday, Nov 28th 2023, 12:14
Retour au fil d'actualité
Less nutrients are being lost in agriculture than between 2014 and 2016. As new figures from the Agroscope research institute show, the loss of the two important nutrients phosphorus and nitrogen has decreased by ten percent each. The new figures relate to the period from 2019 to 2021.
Nevertheless, Agroscope told the media on Tuesday that efforts are still needed from all stakeholders to achieve the targets set by politicians. Nutrient losses are a key issue for Swiss agriculture.
Phosphorus and nitrogen are lost from the agricultural system in various forms via soil, air and water, explained Agroscope. Such emissions via air and soil can contribute to environmental problems. In addition, the lost nitrogen is no longer available in the agricultural cycle and may have to be supplied from outside.
Politicians have therefore defined a reduction pathway for nutrient losses: Nitrogen and phosphorus losses from agriculture must be reduced by 15 percent (nitrogen) and 20 percent (phosphorus) respectively by 2030. The starting point is the average values for the years 2014 to 2016.
Less imported feed
The main reasons for the ten percent decline are lower feed imports and, in the case of nitrogen, lower consumption of mineral fertilizers. Whether this is a permanent decrease can only be conclusively assessed in a few years due to strong annual fluctuations, Agroscope continued.
Agroscope has carried out various research projects to further reduce losses. The resulting findings are presented in a series of fact sheets published on Tuesday, as they explained at the media conference.
System approach decisive
According to Agroscope, a systems approach that considers animal husbandry and crop production together is crucial. Uncoordinated, individual measures in one area would entail the risk of losing the improvements achieved there elsewhere.
Since 1993, Agroscope has been compiling a national nutrient balance on behalf of the Federal Office for Agriculture, which shows how losses develop over several decades.
©Keystone/SDA
French 
English 
German 
Spanish 
Arabic