Project number: 26.01.20.06.18_FutureAgriFood

Scenarios for improved sustainability and greater self-sufficiency in the Swiss agricultural and food industry

Agriculture faces a complex set of challenges and conflicting priorities. On the one hand, it must provide sufficient food and ensure healthy nutrition for a growing world population. On the other hand, it must substantially reduce its impacts on the environment. In this project, we will explore the option space for transforming agri-food production and consumption in Switzerland by 2050. Firstly, we will develop a scenario framework reflecting stakeholder visions and priorities for the Swiss food system. We will then apply these scenarios to assess the environmental and food self-sufficiency impacts of future interventions on the food system. Such interventions may include, for example, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and technological innovations, reducing food waste, or shifting to plant-based protein consumption. Our approach combines participatory scenario development, prospective life cycle assessment of agri-food production, and food system modeling, to systematically evaluate the synergies and trade-offs among different intervention pathways. Based on the results, we will provide actionable recommendations for future agri-food transformation in Switzerland.

Last Name, First Name Location
Brun Justine Reckenholz
Diogo Vasco Reckenholz
Muñoz Liesa Joan Reckenholz
von Ow Albert Tänikon

Sun D., Trydeman Knudsen M., Ponsioen T., Teixeira R., Chervinska A., Raposo M., Lucic R., Gravell M., Davison N., Cameron L., Westaway S., Wilfart A., Golio P., Hashemi F., Diogo V. and others
Consequential life cycle assessment of European livestock systems: Current practices, limitations, and priorities.
Journal of Industrial Ecology, In Press, 2026.

El Benni N.
Pathways for sustainable livestock production systems.
In: Swiss Animal Nutritional Conference. 20 May, Publ. ETH, Agroscope, Agridea, Strickhof, Strickhof (CH). 2026.

Diogo V.
Estimating the remaining climate mitigation potential of a portfolio of technical measures in Swiss agriculture.
In: 15. Ökobilanz-Plattform Landwirtschaft. 5 May, Publ. Agroscope, Zurich (CH). 2026.