Environmental cross-compliance mitigates nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from Swiss agriculture

In 1993 the Swiss agricultural policy was revised with – amongst other goals – the objective of improving the environmental performance of agriculture. A voluntary agri-environmental scheme to promote integrated production (IP) was introduced. In 1999 the IP standards were integrated in cross compli...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & policy 2008-11, Vol.11 (7), p.655-668
Main Authors: Herzog, Felix, Prasuhn, Volker, Spiess, Ernst, Richner, Walter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agri-environmental policy
Agricultural policy
Agricultural production
Diffuse pollution
Environmental effects
Eutrophication
Farms
Nitrate leaching
Regulation
Soil erosion
Soil pollution
Switzerland
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Summary:In 1993 the Swiss agricultural policy was revised with – amongst other goals – the objective of improving the environmental performance of agriculture. A voluntary agri-environmental scheme to promote integrated production (IP) was introduced. In 1999 the IP standards were integrated in cross compliance requirements and termed Proof of Ecological Performance (PEP). We evaluated the effectiveness of this policy in terms of reducing diffuse nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) pollution of ground and surface water. We combined monitoring schemes covering the reference period from before the introduction of IP/PEP (1990–1992) with the evaluation of cause/effect relationships in selected case-study areas. The evaluation showed an overall reduction of diffuse N and P pollution from agriculture even though some goals were not reached. Nitrate leaching declined, but only a 3–4mgL−1 reduction was observed rather than the intended decrease of 5mgL−1. The P pollution of surface waters from agriculture decreased by only 10–30% instead of 50%. The intended reduction of the nitrogen surplus of Swiss agriculture by 33% was not attained, but the P surplus of Swiss agriculture was more than halved. IP/PEP practices that improved N and P management included reduced N and P fertiliser inputs and pig and poultry feedstuffs with reduced N and P contents, both of which are a consequence of the requirement of equilibrated farm nutrient balances, as well as increased use of cover cropping and of conservation tillage systems.
ISSN:1462-9011
1873-6416
DOI:10.1016/j.envsci.2008.06.003