What is PA30+ and when does it actually go into effect?

PA30+ is the Federal Council's 2030+ agricultural policy, officially launched on 2 September 2026. The aim is to increase Swiss food security by expanding farmers' room for manoeuvre, strengthening value creation, resource efficiency and the sustainability of the agri-food chain as a whole. Operational implementation is planned from 2030. Currently, the Federal Council has opened a public consultation until 8 December 2026 to gather feedback on all proposed measures.

How much will Switzerland invest in the new agricultural policy 2030-2033?

The Federal Council has proposed to allocate CHF 13,808 billion for the years 2030-2033. This amount is CHF 123 million lower than the financial envelope planned for the years 2026-2029, but it exceeds by CHF 80 million the amount that would be maintained in the 2030 financial plan in nominal terms. The Federal Parliament has yet to officially approve these spending limits at the post-consultation stage.

What are the 4 strategic areas of intervention of the PA30+?

PA30+ is divided into four axes: (1) Expand farmers' room for manoeuvre and reduce bureaucracy by digitising the supply chain; (2) Support the smooth functioning of markets and improve the economic position of farmers, with additional support for milk and plant crops; (3) Improve production bases and resource efficiency, including adaptation to climate change through sustainable technologies; (4) Promote the sustainability of the agri-food supply chain through agreements with the retail trade and consumer awareness.

How can I participate in the PA30+ consultation by 8 December?

The public consultation is open until 8 December 2026. Anyone — farmers, trade organisations, cantonal administrations, citizens, environmental organisations — can send contributions to the Federal Council. No specific format is required, but submissions must clearly state the position and motivations of the submitter. After the close of the consultation, the Federal Council will review the feedback received and prepare a revised version to be submitted to Parliament.

What practical benefits will the PA30+ bring to Swiss farmers?

PA30+ gives farmers more flexibility in operational management: payments for ecology and animal welfare will be reoriented towards achieving concrete results rather than strict requirements. In addition, additional support for direct human-fed milk and plant crops, investments in sustainable technologies, training and technical advice will improve their economic position and ability to adapt to climate change.

Federal Council launches agricultural consultation 2030 (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 2 September 2026

Lugano sunset view, Switzerland — symbol of wealth and quality of life secured by food security policies

Bern, 2 September 2026: Federal Council opens PA30+ consultation. Budget CHF 13.8 billion for 2030-2033. Margin of manoeuvre for farmers, sustainability of the supply chain. Public participation until 8 December.

Context

In brief

Federal Council launches consultation on agricultural policy 2030+ (PA30+)
Budget allocated: CHF 13.808 billion for 2030-2033
Consultation open until December 8, 2026
4 areas: margin of maneuver, markets, production bases, sustainability of the chain

Key facts

What: Consultation on agricultural policy 2030+ to increase food security
When: September 2, 2026 – December 8, 2026 (consultation deadline)
Where: Switzerland (federal consultation with cantons, associations, citizens)
Who: Federal Council
Amount: CHF 13.808 billion for 2030-2033
Implementation: Starting from 2030
Objective: To increase food security, expand farmers' margin of maneuver, strengthen value creation

Federal press release of September 2, 2026

Berne, September 2, 2026 — The Federal Council has officially launched the consultation on agricultural policy starting from 2030, named PA30+, with the declared objective of strengthening Switzerland's food security. The consultation remains open until December 8, 2026 and welcomes contributions from farmers, sector organizations, cantonal administrations, and citizens.

With this structural reform, the federal executive intends to expand the entrepreneurial margin of maneuver for Swiss farmers, strengthen added value creation and the efficiency of natural resources. At the same time, the government assigns greater responsibilities to the entire agri-food chain — from the food processing sectors, retail trade, to consumers — to ensure an ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable food system.

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Operational details

How PA30+ transforms the relationship between farmers, markets, and consumers

The reform introduces a paradigm shift that involves all levels of the Swiss food chain, from agricultural enterprises to the consumer's table.

Supporting markets and improving economic position

The second area of PA30+ aims to strengthen market observation and extend solidarity measures among operators to support agricultural enterprises in the valorization of their products. Additional financial support is explicitly provided for the dairy and vegetable crops sectors intended for direct human consumption. These measures directly contribute to improving the economic situation of farmers and strengthening their contractual position vis-à-vis distributors.

For those in the agricultural and food processing sectors, this means less market price volatility and better negotiation capacity with large distributors. For Swiss consumers, it translates into greater availability of quality local products, with direct implications for the national cost of living.

Investment in production bases and sustainable technologies

The third strategic axis addresses the structural foundations of Swiss food security: crop protection, promotion of beneficial insects and organisms, support for sustainable technologies, training, and specialized technical advice. These measures also support agricultural enterprises in adapting to climate change, a factor increasingly critical for the stability of Swiss food production.

Compared to the previous phase (2026-2029), the emphasis on resource efficiency and innovative technologies represents an important qualitative leap. It is no longer just about regulatory compliance but a structural modernization strategy for the Swiss primary sector, as desired by the Federal Council.

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Key points

How to participate in the public consultation

The public consultation on PA30+ remains open until December 8, 2026. Interested parties — agricultural associations, food industry organizations, trade unions, cantonal administrations, municipalities, environmental organizations, and individual citizens — can submit their contributions to the Federal Council.

Contributions must reach the federal administration by the deadline of December 8, 2026. No specific format is required; however, contributions must clearly state the position of the submitter and the reasons supporting it. The received observations will be analyzed by the Federal Council for possible adjustments before the final presentation to the Federal Parliament.

Deadlines and next steps

December 8, 2026: Final deadline for submitting contributions to the public consultation on PA30+.

After the consultation phase closes, the Federal Council will examine the feedback received from farmers, cantons, industry organizations, and citizens, preparing a revised version of the complete package of measures accompanied by a summary of the consultation results. This version will then be transmitted to Parliament for final approval. The exact timeline for the parliamentary discussion has not yet been set in the federal announcement; however, the operational implementation of PA30+ is scheduled to begin in 2030.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is PA30+ and when does it actually go into effect?: PA30+ is the Federal Council's 2030+ agricultural policy, officially launched on 2 September 2026. The aim is to increase Swiss food security by expanding farmers' room for manoeuvre, strengthening value creation, resource efficiency and the sustainability of the agri-food chain as a whole. Operational implementation is planned from 2030. Currently, the Federal Council has opened a public consultation until 8 December 2026 to gather feedback on all proposed measures.
How much will Switzerland invest in the new agricultural policy 2030-2033?: The Federal Council has proposed to allocate CHF 13,808 billion for the years 2030-2033. This amount is CHF 123 million lower than the financial envelope planned for the years 2026-2029, but it exceeds by CHF 80 million the amount that would be maintained in the 2030 financial plan in nominal terms. The Federal Parliament has yet to officially approve these spending limits at the post-consultation stage.
What are the 4 strategic areas of intervention of the PA30+?: PA30+ is divided into four axes: (1) Expand farmers' room for manoeuvre and reduce bureaucracy by digitising the supply chain; (2) Support the smooth functioning of markets and improve the economic position of farmers, with additional support for milk and plant crops; (3) Improve production bases and resource efficiency, including adaptation to climate change through sustainable technologies; (4) Promote the sustainability of the agri-food supply chain through agreements with the retail trade an
How can I participate in the PA30+ consultation by 8 December?: The public consultation is open until 8 December 2026. Anyone — farmers, trade organisations, cantonal administrations, citizens, environmental organisations — can send contributions to the Federal Council. No specific format is required, but submissions must clearly state the position and motivations of the submitter. After the close of the consultation, the Federal Council will review the feedback received and prepare a revised version to be submitted to Parliament.
What practical benefits will the PA30+ bring to Swiss farmers?: PA30+ gives farmers more flexibility in operational management: payments for ecology and animal welfare will be reoriented towards achieving concrete results rather than strict requirements. In addition, additional support for direct human-fed milk and plant crops, investments in sustainable technologies, training and technical advice will improve their economic position and ability to adapt to climate change.