Switzerland’s vote has not settled how the country should feed its population or use farmland. The federal government is preparing AP30+, a broader agricultural-policy reform intended to strengthen food security while giving farmers greater entrepreneurial freedom. The consultation on the proposal runs until Dec. 8, 2026.
The plan would tie direct payments more closely to measurable results and reduce administrative work through digital tools. It also proposes stronger market monitoring and industry self-help, higher milk supplements, better crop protection, greater use of beneficial insects and additional support for sustainable technologies.
AP30+ would orient production more toward human food rather than animal feed and asks retailers and consumers to share responsibility for a sustainable food system. For 2030–2033, the Federal Council plans to seek 13.81 billion Swiss francs for agriculture.
Agricultural journalist Jürg Vollmer argues that a key change would be shifting some land use from livestock production to arable farming. Around 60% of arable land is currently used to grow animal feed; the reform aims to bring that share down to 40%, leaving more land for food consumed directly by people. Vollmer also pointed to food waste as a major issue that receives limited attention because it touches consumer choices.
Urs Niggli, president of the Institute of Agroecology and former longtime director of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, likewise supports reducing food waste and eating more plant-based and fewer animal products. He said the vote demonstrated the political difficulty of changing consumption habits. The initiative’s defeat therefore leaves unresolved how Switzerland can raise self-sufficiency while reducing environmental pressure and preparing its food system for future risks.