Image: taken in the Canton of Jura in Switzerland by @Uniboa on Unsplash.

Pasture of the future: Improving grassland & animal management

Location: Switzerland
Start date: February 2025; Duration: 5 years
Partners: Agricultura Regeneratio Association (Switzerland), Alpahirt AG (Switzerland), Mutterkuh Schweiz (Switzerland), Verein MuKa
Partner project page: link

This project supports Swiss farmers in adopting regenerative and economically viable pasture-based meat and milk production practices. It addresses the need for farmer-led education and peer support, recognising that most farmers prefer learning from other farmers with practical experience.

Desired project outcomes:

• Regenerative grassland management in Switzerland has been enhanced, with nature-friendly and economically viable pasture-based production of meat and milk
• Swiss farmers have access to a newly established regenerative monitoring system in time for a new direct payment system under development.
• Farmers have gained relevant knowledge and experience to improve their animal production system, especially management of grassland and pastures.
• Farmer network in place for improved grassland management (connected through digital learning platform so that they can learn from each other)
• Trained farmers act as lighthouses for other farmers and are role models for successful transition for farmers

Project approach:

• Engaging a network of research, training, education, and agricultural organisations and companies to support improved grassland management. (Including Agridea, Vache Mère Suisse, Bio Suisse, IP Suisse.)
• Supporting hands-on, independent, holistic coaching tailored to Swiss farming contexts to implement regenerative practices.
• Coaching 100 farmers over five years, including producing 60 recorded webinars and other online training modules publicly available in German and French.
• Creating a networking platform for farmer-to-farmer local support groups to connect, share experiences, and learn together.
• Preparing farmers to be lighthouses for other farmers and act as role models for successful transitioning farmers.
• Using an outcome-based monitoring systems to track soil health, biodiversity, and economic viability of participating farms.

DMSF guidance and contribution:

• Farmer focus: From the beginning, this project fits with DMSF’s farmer-centric focus. In addition, the co-creation process has encouraged a diversity of farming types, including a mix of operations, and a balance of gender representation among the trainers and farmers involved. The transitioning farms in the program are open to regenerative practices and many have already taken steps along the journey, including:
  • Many farms are already implementing regenerative practices (focusing on soils, biodiversity, mob grazing, biochar, etc.).
  • There is a good mix of operations (swine, poultry, beef, dairy, etc.).
  • Some even have farm shops or places for people to stay.
• Regenerative animal integration: Grasslands cover around 70% of Switzerland’s’ agricultural land, and a rich history of grazing cattle, sheep and goats are still in evidence today. Animal integration into this project, primarily dairy cattle, was not only a prerequisite for partnership but a natural focus.
• Impact measurement: The project will measure and track several factors including human and environmental indicators:
  • Effectiveness of coaching and digital learning via:
    • № of regenerative coaches trained and available (target: 25)
    • № of farmers enrolled (target: 100)
    • Farmer satisfaction survey rate
      (target: min. 70% response rate)
    • № of downloads by farmers beyond the program (target: 5,000 downloads by 12/2029)
  • Environmental indicators, including soil organic matter, water, biodiversity, and the footprint of animal products using existing tools.
  • Model/pilot farms established (target: 5)

How this project’s impact can scale:

This project centers on community-led farming that addresses climate, biodiversity, social and economic challenges while improving livestock productivity and reducing reliance on synthetic inputs. Farmers making this transition successfully will act as guides and role models for other farmers in their area. By 2030, the goal is to have 40-50% of Swiss farmers aware of these practices, with 5-10% implementing them. The holistic coaching model is also highly replicable in other grassland and non-grassland contexts outside Switzerland where farmers are looking to transition to regenerative.