We analyzed the effect of different measures to control nitrogen and phosphorus pollution on the overall environmental impact of the Swiss agricultural sector, including imports and exports. Our results show that it is possible to reduce the environmental burden of the agricultural sector within Switzerland, but only at the expense of shifting environmental impacts abroad. In order to reduce the overall environmental impact of a country's agri-food sector, small-scale local factors such as site-adapted tillage practices have to be considered in combination with a global perspective.