MONET 2030: Organic farming

SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Swiss target 2.4: The proportion of farms engaged in especially environment and animal-friendly production under public and private sustainability programmes rises by a third compared with 2020.

Significance of the indicator
The indicator shows the percentage of the utilised agricultural area that is farmed in accordance with the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance. Organic farming according to the Organic Farming Ordinance is a form of production that is as protective of the environment and nature and as animal-friendly as possible. Organic farming produces as far as possible in closed loops using environmentally friendly methods, in particular excluding chemical-synthetic fertilisers and plant protection products as well as genetically modified organisms. Animal production is species-appropriate and must comply, for example with regard to animal numbers and outdoor runs, with stricter requirements than those foreseen in the Swiss Animal Welfare Act. An increase in the percentage of the area organically farmed according to the Organic Farming Ordinance therefore contributes to sustainable development.

Help for interpretation
Organic farming according to the Organic Farming Ordinance is not the only environmentally and animal-friendly production method. However, due to the quality and availability of data it serves here as a representative for several public and private sustainability programmes.

The indicator should be considered jointly with the “Nitrogen balance from agriculture” and the “Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture” indicators, which are also assigned to the Swiss target 2.4.

International comparability
Switzerland’s ordinances on organic farming and the corresponding EU regulation are considered equivalent to one another. The figures are thus comparable with regard to the minimum requirements. Nevertheless, the definition of the utilised agricultural area (UAA) may differ from one country to another, influencing the percentages calculated.

Tables

Methodology

Organically farmed areas according to the Organic Farming Ordinance are surveyed in the annual farm structure survey. This survey is based on administrative data that are recorded under the Direct Payments Ordinance. It is the result of cooperation by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) with the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOFA) and the cantonal agricultural offices.

Definitions

Arable land is land that is included in crop rotation. It is composed of open cropland and artificial pastures. Open cropland is land upon which non-perennial crops, vegetables or berries are cultivated, as well as non-perennial herbs and medicinal plants. Herbaceous strips and fallow ground also count as open cropland. 

Grassland is comprised of artificial and permanent pasture. Artificial pastures are sown pastures that are farmed within a crop rotation for at least one growing season. Permanent pasture is defined as areas covered with grass and herbs, with the exception of summering areas. It must have been permanent meadow or pasture for more than six years. A permanent meadow is mowed at least once per year for forage production. A permanent pasture is used exclusively for grazing.

Permanent crops are crops that last for several growing seasons. These include vineyards, orchards, perennial berry and vegetable crops, hops, perennial herbs and medicinal plants, horticultural field cultivation such as tree and forest nurseries, well-tended “selves” of sweet chestnut or walnut trees, as well as perennial crops such as Christmas trees or miscanthus.

Targets

Swiss target 2.4: The proportion of farms engaged in especially environment and animal-friendly production under public and private sustainability programmes rises by a third compared with 2020.

International target 2.4: : By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.

Contact

Federal Statistical Office Section Environment, Sustainable Development, Territory
Espace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Tel.
+41 58 460 58 46

Monday - Friday:
09.00 - 12.00 / 14.00 - 16.00

Contact

Remark

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