How much smell should people living next to farms be expected to endure? In Switzerland, this often contentious point is subject to a raft of guidelines – which are now under review. (SRF, swissinfo.ch)
Officials have stuck their nose into the ongoing conflict between farmers and their residential neighbours, following new research from the Agroscope Institute for Food Sciences.
The Federal Office for Agriculture must once again decide on the reasonable amount of animal odour that someone working at a stable should tolerate. Or how far a chicken coop should be built from a residential area.
The revision of the 22-year-old rule book has been sparked by changing farming methods and the continued encroachment of residential areas on traditional farm land.
Research has revealed an increased tendency to build larger and more open stables and agricultural biogas facilities on farms. This leads to a growing potential for conflict with people living nearby. It is hoped that the overhaul of guidelines will resolve this issue.
Popular Stories
More
Foreign affairs
What Trump’s return or a new Harris administration would mean for Switzerland
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss trial aims to cut cow ammonia emissions
This content was published on
There are about two million cows in Switzerland – one for every four inhabitants. The cattle are responsible for about 95% of the total Swiss ammonia emissions. Ammonia is a common animal by-product that occurs when excess feed nitrogen that is not metabolised into animal proteins, is then passed through livestock urine and faeces. The…
This content was published on
As temperatures climb and growing seasons change, milk producers must cooperate to improve their grassland management practices.
This content was published on
Walter Wolf Windisch has been out in the meadows of eastern Switzerland, collecting cow droppings for a unique artistic project.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.