Published on 10 October 2024

Farming

Important elements in organic farming are a closed nutrient cycle, species-appropriate animal husbandry, preserving soil fertility and using natural methods of plant protection.

Principles

The principles of organic farming are:

  • The farm’s nutrient cycle is as closed as possible (the farm itself provides feed and nutrients)
  • Soil fertility is maintained and improved
  • Ethical animal husbandry

Measures

The focus is on the following measures:

  • No synthetic chemical pesticides, growing less vulnerable crops in suitable rotations, deploying beneficial organisms and mechanical weed control measures such as tillage and burning
  • Applying organically bound nitrogen primarily in the form of manure or composted manure, planting nitrogen-fixing crops (legumes) and the use of natural, slow-release fertilisers
  • Maintaining soil fertility by focusing on humus management
  • Varied crop rotations with a high number of rotation crops and catch crops
  • No chemical/synthetic growth regulators
  • Limited livestock density appropriate for the area
  • Animals fed with feed produced on the farm; as little purchased feed as possible
  • Antibiotics limited to essential use only

When a farm wants to convert to organic farming, it usually undergoes a two-year conversion period. Its products are labelled accordingly. In principle, it is only possible to convert an entire farm to organic production.

Further information

The FOAG provides a reduced English-language version of its website that does not include all further information such as documents, legislation or links. These can be found on the pages in the three official languages (German, French and Italian).

Contact for questions

Federal Office for Agriculture FOAG
Quality and Sales Promotion Unit
Schwarzenburgstrasse 165
Switzerland - 3003 Bern