Networking Event Series – Climate-Friendly Farming

Agriculture is responsible for 10% of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions and is a huge driver of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. It is clear that the sector needs to be transformed. The challenge will be that, if we want to feed a growing population and still reach our net zero targets, agricultural production needs to be increased while greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.

However, there is good news too: “[…] Agriculture is one of the few sectors that has the potential to reduce its impacts on climate and nature, while at the same time increasing its resilience to climate change and other environmental shocks.

“Transforming the sector could substantially contribute to Europe’s net-zero and nature-positive targets. Achieving this will require working hand in hand with farmers, strong collaboration and investments along the entire value chain, as well as support from European policy-makers”, as this article on the EU Carbon + Farming Coalition states.

On the consumer side, more climate-friendly foods are demanded as well. In Switzerland, Migros, Denner and other retailers have already announced net zero strategies by 2050 and the Swiss Climate Strategy for Agriculture has set targets and strategies that need to be met.  Whilst Switzerland is innovating in many areas including agroforestry, methane reduction methodologies and a switch from meat and dairy to plant-based diets is happening, there is much more that needs to be done.

At this event, GreenBuzz will discuss questions, such as:

• What are the challenges and barriers to climate-friendly solutions in agriculture (shifts from use of pesticides and fossil-fueled methods, alternatives to dairy and meat prodcution and methods that support nature regeneration.)?
• What are the opportunities in transforming the agricultural sector?
• What exactly does Switzerland’s Climate Strategy for Agriculture say?
• How do we balance carbon neutrality with other elements that should be included in sustainable food production? What are synergies with biodiversity protection, social justice, empowerment of local people or poverty remediation?

Join GreenBuzz on April 7th to discuss what progress has been made, what co-operations exist and what opportunities there are for moving climate-friendly, regenerative farming forward!