PA30+: Federal Consultation on Agriculture

Context

In brief

• Federal Council launches PA30+ for agricultural policy from 2030
• Online voting authorized in Neuchâtel until November 26, 2028
• Measures for rare diseases: legal bases and national registry
• Additional funds to address heat waves and drought for forests and agriculture

Key facts

• What: Four decisions by the Federal Council on agriculture, digital democracy, health and environment
• When: PA30+ consultation launched; November 26, 2028 (end of online voting authorization); September 27, 2026 (popular vote); March 13, 2026 (transmission of EU package)
• Where: National Switzerland; Canton Neuchâtel
• Who: Federal Council, Parliament, citizens, agrifood chain actors
• Topics: Agricultural policy, digital voting, health, climate sustainability

The Federal Government entrusts consultation on the future of Swiss agriculture

The Federal Council has adopted a series of strategic measures that reshape the Swiss agricultural landscape, strengthen digital democracy and address health and climate challenges. The announcement comes from the official portal of the Swiss Government (admin.ch) and concerns areas that directly affect the daily life of residents in the country.

PA30+: consultation on agricultural policy from 2030

The Federal Council has launched the consultation on PA30+ (Agricultural Policy from 2030), a comprehensive approach involving all actors in the agrifood chain. This strategy document aims to redefine the role of Swiss agriculture in a context of climate change, food security and transformation towards sustainability. The consultation is already underway and represents a crucial moment for farmers, agrifood industries, environmental associations and consumers to express their positions. Decisions made today will shape market access, prices of domestic foodstuffs and production methods in the years to come.

Online voting: Neuchâtel opens experimentation

Secondly, the Federal Council has authorized the use of electronic voting in the Canton of Neuchâtel until November 26, 2028. This represents a significant step towards modernizing voting systems in Switzerland. A portion of voters will be able to use online voting in the context of the popular vote on November 29 next. The authorization is limited in time and restricted to the French-speaking canton, which is preparing to experiment with this innovative form of democratic participation. Data collected during the experimentation could guide decisions by cantons wishing to adopt digital voting in the future.

Health: legal bases and national registry for rare diseases

Third issue addressed: the Federal Council wants to improve health care for people suffering from rare diseases. To this end, it intends to create legal bases for financing care facilities and information activities, as well as to establish a national registry. These measures address a historical gap in the Swiss health system, where patients with rare diseases often struggle to access coordinated care and centralized information. The national registry will allow doctors to share clinical data and patients to find their way to specialized centers.

Additional funds to address heat waves and drought

Finally, the Federal Council has decided to adopt additional measures to deal with periods of heat waves and drought. Additional funds will be allocated to forests and agriculture, two sectors particularly vulnerable to climate stress. At the end of October, the Federal Government will reassess the situation, a sign that the response to climate crises remains dynamic and subject to revision. Investments concern emergency irrigation, forest defense and research on resistant varieties.

Federal votes and agreements with the European Union

On September 27, 2026, Swiss citizens will vote on two initiatives: the initiative on neutrality and the one on food. In parallel, the Federal Council transmitted to Parliament on March 13, 2026 a new package of Switzerland-EU agreements aimed at stabilizing and developing bilateral relations. These agreements address key sectors of the economy and European cooperation and represent another decision front involving Parliament and, potentially, the Swiss people.

Operational details

Practical implications for the daily life of Swiss residents

The decisions of the Federal Council are not simple palace announcements: they have concrete and measurable impacts on the daily life of those who live and work in Switzerland. Let's examine how each measure affects personal finances, access to services, and opportunities for democratic participation.

Agriculture, food prices and consumer budgets

The consultation on PA30+ concerns not only professional farmers, but anyone who buys food in supermarkets or from local producers. A reform of agricultural policy that involves 'all actors in the agrifood chain' means that prices, availability and characteristics of domestic products may vary in the coming years. If the Government decides to reduce direct subsidies to agriculture, supermarket prices could rise to reflect true production costs. If instead it encourages organic or sustainable production, consumer budgets could suffer in the short term, but benefit from a more environmentally conscious supply. Discover how the cost of living in Switzerland changes to understand which federal factors affect your daily spending on food, energy and housing.

The consultation is the crucial moment in which consumer associations, agricultural unions and organized citizens can make their voice heard before the Federal Council submits legislative proposals to Parliament. The observations received shape the final text of reforms.

Online voting: more inclusive democracy but with security questions

The authorization of electronic voting in the Canton of Neuchâtel until November 26, 2028 represents an important pilot test for all of Switzerland. Online voting reduces physical barriers (elderly with limited mobility, people with disabilities, workers with rigid schedules) and potentially increases participation rates. However, it also raises critical questions about cybersecurity, vote traceability and voter privacy rights. The pilot in the November 29 ballot will allow the canton to gather concrete data on technical feasibility, voter acceptance and any problems encountered. This data will directly influence the decisions of other cantons regarding future extensions of digital voting.

Rare diseases: centrality of the national registry and access to care

The national registry for rare diseases will change how patients and doctors access specialized information. Currently, those suffering from a rare disease risk wandering between hospitals without clear diagnosis or coordinated therapies, causing diagnostic delays that can last years. A centralized registry enables treating physicians to quickly connect with recognized specialists, monitor disease progression across larger samples for clinical studies, and allows patients to know where to find specialized care. The legal bases that the Federal Council intends to create will define who funds specialized structures (cantons, LAMal/health insurance, Confederation) and how data will flow into the registry while respecting data protection. This information is relevant to anyone who has a family member affected by a rare disease and wishes to ensure access to coordinated care and information.

Climate and agriculture: long-term investment

Supplementary funds for forests and agriculture during periods of heat waves and drought directly address the measurable impact of climate change. Swiss farmers have suffered significant losses in recent years (2022-2023 drought, repeated heat waves). Swiss forests too, critical infrastructure for landslide prevention, water cycle and CO₂ absorption, are under increasing stress. Supplementary investments in emergency irrigation systems, forest phytosanitary defense and research on drought-resistant varieties have an evident economic return (protection of agricultural income) and environmental benefit (ecosystem preservation). The review of the situation at the end of October allows the Federal Government to adapt measures based on actual meteorological and hydrological data.

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Key points

How to Participate: Deadlines, Procedures and Practical Tools

Federal Council decisions are not final: many steps require public consultations, parliamentary votes and popular votes. Here's what Swiss residents can concretely do in the coming months to inform themselves and participate in decision-making processes.

Calendar of Critical Deadlines

September 27, 2026: First appointment with no extension. Swiss citizens will vote on two initiatives: one on neutrality and one on food. Consulting the official federal government dossiers to understand the pros and cons of each initiative is essential before voting. It's advisable to inform yourself at least a week before the vote by reading the official materials from the Federal Council on admin.ch.

November 29, 2026: In the Canton of Neuchâtel, some voters will be able to try online voting. If you reside in Neuchâtel and are eligible to vote, check with your municipal office to see if you are included in the pilot group. The pilot involves a limited number of voters, so access is not automatic.

November 26, 2028: Final deadline for authorization of online voting in Neuchâtel. Before this date, the federal government and the canton will evaluate the results of the pilot and decide whether to extend e-voting to other cantons or extend the authorization in the canton of Neuchâtel.

Consultation on PA30+: How to Participate

The PA30+ consultation is open. If you are a farmer, agribusiness operator, environmentalist, or simply a citizen interested in Swiss agricultural policy, you can contribute by sending comments and proposals to the Federal Council within the deadlines published on admin.ch. Sector associations (Swiss Farmers' Union, small producers' associations), trade unions (Unia, VSA), and environmental organizations (Pro Natura, WWF Switzerland) are already preparing their official opinions. Informing yourself through the websites of these organizations allows you to understand the key positions at stake and formulate informed comments.

Switzerland-EU Package: Parliamentary Monitoring

The Switzerland-EU agreement package transmitted to Parliament on March 13, 2026 now follows the standard legislative process. Parliamentary committees (economic committees, foreign affairs committees) will examine the details of the agreements in the coming months. If you are interested, the federal Parliament website (parlament.ch) allows you to follow debates in real time, consult the texts of bills and contact your representatives (national councillors and senators) to express your positions.

Rare Diseases: How to Prepare for the National Register

If someone in your family suffers from a rare disease, following the developments of the national register is important. As soon as the legal bases are approved by Parliament and the Confederation, the register will become operational. Inform yourself through patient associations that represent your specific condition: they will be among the first to communicate the registration procedures and the practical benefits of joining the register (access to coordinated care, participation in clinical studies, connecting with other patients).

Stay Updated and Act Consciously

The admin.ch portal remains the official source for all federal government announcements, consultation dossiers, voting calendars and legislative texts. Regularly visit the site to access details on every issue and download consultation documents. For those who want to stay updated on federal decisions, laws and reforms that affect daily life (salaries, taxes, AVS, health insurance premiums, agriculture, energy), regularly checking official communications is essential. The Frontaliere Ticino newsletter offers a weekly summary of all federal and cantonal updates relevant to Swiss residents. Sign up to not miss regulatory updates and discover our salary calculator to understand how federal reforms on taxes, AVS and contributions affect your personal portfolio and that of your family.