Agricultural Policy 2030 Must Strengthen Food Security and Provide Perspective for Farming Families

The Federal Council plans to submit the proposal for agricultural policy starting from 2030 for consultation in autumn 2026. The board of the Swiss Farmers' Union (SBV) addressed the current situation and the measures required for the next agricultural policy. Current figures show that agriculture is not on target in many areas. Particularly critical is food security. The net self-sufficiency rate in 2024 was only 42 percent. Thus, domestic supply is not sufficiently ensured. The SBV therefore calls for clear promotion of productive agriculture and measures to encourage production, such as the expansion of structural improvements. The SBV strongly opposes new counterproductive systems like steering taxes or additional extensification requirements.

There is an urgent need for action regarding the economic and social situation of farming families. Low incomes, long working hours, and high burdens characterize the everyday life of many farms. The SBV calls for a realistic assessment of the income situation and strengthening the market position of primary production. It has developed its own market package with numerous specific measures. Therefore, it also vehemently rejects unjustified cuts in the agricultural budget.

In the environmental sector, the elements of the suspended AP 22+ have already been picked up and are being implemented. In the area of ecological sustainability, farming families have already achieved significant improvements: The risks of pesticide use have been halved, biodiversity areas have increased, and the proportion of particularly animal-friendly farms has risen. Numerous measures are currently underway to meet the ambitious goals in the areas of plant protection and nutrients.

The AP 2030 finally needs a noticeable simplification. Less administration, simplified controls, and a stable effective period of twelve years are essential prerequisites for planning security and trust. The board also reminds the authorities and the Federal Council of the parliament's mandate: The AP 2030 should not be purely an agricultural policy, but a food policy. The entire value chain is responsible!

The SBV's stance on the individual elements of the AP 2030 can be found in this information sheet.

Currently, the high milk volume is on everyone's lips. Milk producers are suffering from the sharply reduced prices that do not cover production costs. The good news is that there is no structural surplus in current production, and long-term prospects are good. Instead, it is due to the combination of optimal feed harvest in 2025, high import pressure, and sales problems for Swiss cheese abroad. The board addressed the challenging situation, calling on the entire sector to take measures to overcome the temporary crisis.

The milk farms themselves are urged to reduce milk volume through the early slaughter of cows, feeding calves and optimized feeding. The processing sector is asked to fully utilize its capacity to produce durable dairy products and to refrain from any imports of milk and dairy products. The same applies to the retail trade, which has significant leverage and therefore responsibility through the import of foreign cheese and other dairy products. The board of the Farmers' Union calls on the dairy industry's organization to hold all actors accountable and help prevent the destruction of Swiss milk. It expects short-term adjustments to the refining traffic system from the Federal Council.

For inquiries: Michelle Schenk-Wyss Head of Agricultural Economics SBV 056 462 50 08

Loïc Bardet Head of Economy, Education, and International Affairs SBV Mobile 079 718 01 88

Michel Darbellay Head of Production, Markets & Ecology Mobile 078 801 16 91

www.sbv-usp.ch

Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: von Schweizer Bauernverband (SBV)