VAUD

Abstract and Main Features

Le Règlement sur l’agroécologie, RAgrEco – The Vaud cantonal Regulation 910.21.1 on agroecology, in English – implements provisions of the Vaud Agricultural Law to promote agroecology, biodiversity, soil fertility, and organic farming, aligning with Swiss federal laws and ordinances on agriculture, water, and nature protection. It defines subsidies eligibility (Vaud-domiciled farmers meeting direct payment rules), covered areas (utilized agricultural area and alpine pastures), application/ payment procedures, controls, contestation, and sanctions. Key instruments include support for voluntary ecological measures, studies and collective agri-environmental projects, soil fertility measures (grass strips, no-till pilots), conversion aid to organic farming and compensation for extreme crop losses in organic systems, ecological quality and networking projects, nature protection management agreements, preservation of landscape heritage, and orchard renewal with resistant or heritage varieties. It establishes roles for the agricultural service, nature protection service, possible delegation to professional organizations, and a consultative commission; sets approval, control, and funding mechanisms with federal co-financing where applicable. 

The main features of this Regulation are: 

• Reduce environmental pressures and promote sustainable use of natural resources in agriculture. 
• Maintain and improve soil fertility. 
• Conserve and enhance biodiversity and landscape diversity through ecological quality and networking. 
• Support conversion to and resilience of organic farming. 
• Protect specific natural assets and traditional rural landscape elements. 
• Foster collective, regionally relevant agri-environmental initiatives.

Objectives 

The objectives of the Regulation on agroecology are to define financial incentives for agri-environmental measures that reduce environmental impacts. The environmental objectives of the policy are focused on the maintenance of soil fertility, organic agriculture and conservation of biodiversity and landscape diversity. The scope of subsidies includes individual voluntary projects, promotion activities, as well as collective projects and project plans. 

Key Target Groups  

The Regulation has a focus on farmers domiciled in the Canton of Vaud eligible for federal direct payments, agricultural professional organizations as promoters or delegated executing bodies, and project consortia for collective agri-environmental and ecological network projects. 

Expected Results 

The Regulation is expected to deliver the following results: 

• Increased adoption of voluntary ecological measures and regionally coordinated ecological networks. 
• Tangible improvements in water, soil, and habitat quality; reduced erosion via grass strips; uptake of no-till pilots where suitable. 
• Growth and stabilization of organic farming through conversion support and targeted loss compensation. 
• Formalized management of protected habitats and landscape features with measurable biodiversity benefits. 
• Renewal of orchards with pest-resistant and heritage varieties. 

Regulation Development Process 

This Regulation was prepared and issued by the Council of the State of the Canton of Vaud.  

Ministries and Stakeholders Involved in the Process 

• Cantonal agricultural service (lead for administration and implementation). 
• Cantonal nature protection service and other services (forests, fauna, water, land improvements) for scientific/technical aspects and co-approval. 
• Federal offices via applicable ordinances and co-financing/approvals (e.g., Ordinance on Environmental Quality (In French: Ordonnance sur la qualité écologique), direct payments ordinance). 
• Delegated agricultural professional organization(s) as execution bodies for specific tasks (agreements, pre-approvals, controls, data). 
• Consultative commission including service representatives, execution body, a nature protection association, and three farmer representatives. 

Implementation 

To ensure the implementation of agroecological measures by farmers, key interventions at farm and regional levels are stated in the Regulation to ensure the promotion and subsidies for voluntary ecological measures by farmers, including:  

• Individual aids for grass strips on erosion-prone land (6–12 m, maintained ≥6 years; CHF 1,000/ha/yr). 
• Pilot support for direct seeding of main crops in plains/mountain (up to CHF 250/ha). 
• Organic conversion aid (per ha rates for special crops, arable, grassland in plain/mountain for up to 2 years) and compensatory payments for >80% losses due to specified pests/diseases during first 5 years, subject to expert verification and preventive measures. 
• Ecological network projects: minimum 100 ha utilized agricultural area or ≥5 farms; quality controls at entry and during commitment; functional evaluations at 3 and 6 years; contributions at federal maxima; canton funds the non-federal share. 
• Nature protection agreements: 6-year management contracts for nationally/ at the Canton level protected habitats; specific practices and tariffs set by nature protection service. 
• Landscape heritage projects: study grants (up to CHF 10,000) and implementation aids at 50% of Ordinance on Environmental Quality (In French: Ordonnance sur la qualité écologique) rates for agreed agricultural management. 
• Orchard renewal: one-off payments (CHF 15 per high-stem tree, max CHF 2,300/ha; CHF 1 per low-stem, max CHF 2,000/ha; minimum tree counts) for approved varieties and spacing. 
• Standardized procedures for applications, controls, contestation within three working days, and potential restitution on non-compliance. 

Budget and Funding 

• Co-financing with the Confederation where frameworks exist (e.g. Ordinance on Environmental Quality, ecological quality/networking, direct payments); canton covers non-federal share and reports to federal offices. 
• Fixed canton aid amounts for specified measures (e.g., grass strips, direct seeding pilots, organic conversion rates, orchard renewal caps, study grants). 
• For collective projects: study support up to a combined 75% (federal and canton) of costs; canton share capped at CHF 25,000 per project; exceptional canton co-funding for implementation may bring total public share up to 50% of recognized costs when federal funds are insufficient and no other legal base exists. 

NB: This summary did not receive an official review from Vaud’s authorities. 

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Image Credit: Biovision Foundation