Agroscope Publishes Study on Environmental Impacts of Drinking-Water Initiative

In an in-depth study, Agroscope analysed the possible environmental impacts of implementing the Drinking-Water Initiative. The life-cycle assessment shows that pesticide and nutrient pollution of Swiss water bodies and groundwater could be reduced. In addition, inland biodiversity could be improved slightly. Overall, however, rising food imports would lead to increased environmental pollution. The Popular Initiative ' For Clean Drinking Water and Healthy Food - No Subsidies for Pesticide and Prophylactic Antibiotic Use ' aims to significantly tighten Proof of Ecological Performance (PEP) requirements. It is expected that the electorate will vote on this Drinking-Water Initiative (DWI) in 2021. Adoption of the initiative would lead to fairly major changes in the Swiss agricultural sector.