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Sustainable intensification of agriculture

Global food systems face the challenge of providing enough healthy, safe, nutritious and sustainably produced food to a growing world population with limited natural resources and under changing climate and environmental conditions. To achieve this, Switzerland is working in an international context to increase productivity through sustainable intensification of agriculture that respects system boundaries. Thanks to innovation and with the appropriate production methods, natural resources can be used sustainably and productivity increased at the same time, thus contributing to food security for both present and future generations.

To this end, Switzerland is focusing in particular on the areas of livestock farming, plant health and water:

Livestock farming	Livestock farming is of great importance for food security worldwide and for a balanced diet. However, it is also a key factor in negative environmental impact. Globally, significant efforts are needed to make this sector sustainable. Switzerland advocates the sustainable development of the livestock sector in multilateral organisations and in various multistakeholder partnerships, such as the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) and the Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance Partnership (LEAP).
Plant health	The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that plant pests and diseases cause up to 40 per cent of food crop losses each year. Plant health is being increasingly threatened by climate change and the growing international trade in goods. The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) lays down international standards to guarantee the protection of plants, in particular in the international movement of goods.
Water efficiency in agriculture	The Sustainable Development Goal SDG 6 calls for increasing water use efficiency in all sectors by 2030. The Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) is committed to promoting water efficiency in favour of sustainable agricultural production at international level in the context of the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) and the Swiss Water Partnership (SWP).

Livestock farming

Livestock farming is of great importance for food security worldwide and for a balanced diet. However, it is also a key factor in negative environmental impact. Globally, significant efforts are needed to make this sector sustainable. Switzerland advocates the sustainable development of the livestock sector in multilateral organisations and in various multistakeholder partnerships, such as the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) and the Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance Partnership (LEAP).

Plant health

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that plant pests and diseases cause up to 40 per cent of food crop losses each year. Plant health is being increasingly threatened by climate change and the growing international trade in goods.

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) lays down international standards to guarantee the protection of plants, in particular in the international movement of goods.

Water efficiency in agriculture

The Sustainable Development Goal SDG 6 calls for increasing water use efficiency in all sectors by 2030. The Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) is committed to promoting water efficiency in favour of sustainable agricultural production at international level in the context of the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) and the Swiss Water Partnership (SWP).

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