Erhaltung der Landwirtschaftsflächen bedingt Priorisierung der Leistungen (Essay)

Protection of agricultural land needs prioritization of goods and services (essay) In Switzerland, productive agricultural land is scarce. Settlement development, forest encroachment and the expansion of natural habitats reduce the availability of agricultural surfaces and thus agriculture's potential to contribute to domestic food security. In addition, rural infrastructure developments as well as production immissions such as odor and noise increase land-use conflicts. To address these conflicts, society's demand for agricultural goods and services and the requirements of a productive agricultural sector must be reconciled by defining spatial areas in which goods and services provided by a multifunctional agriculture are prioritized. As shown by the example of the canton Zurich, such a spatial prioritization of agricultural goods and services allows for a consideration of synergies and trade-offs in actual planning processes to effectively protect agricultural surfaces.