Swiss farming-related referenda and sustainability of agriculture

Background: In Switzerland, in recent years several referenda and popular votes / petitions took place in regard to agricultural practices, concerning, for example water pollution, fair trade, sustainable agriculture. This provides vast opportunities for learning about the way direct democracy affects discussions on agricultural policy and public opinion.

Aim: To describe selected popular votes in Swiss agricultural policy in recent years and to analyse the policy making around them, how they affect agricultural policy and what we can learn from them about direct democracy, agricultural policy and sustainability concerns.