Similarities Between Switzerland And American Agriculture

Ashleigh Granger

PO-1013

Final Project: US and Switzerland For this paper, I will be reviewing the similarities and differences between agriculture in the United States and agriculture in Switzerland. Every country has different methods and techniques, as well as country regulations in agriculture, that contribute to their end products. Comparisons between the two countries range from wide scale to small scale factors, such as societal view of agriculture, demographics, sustainable and technological practices, crops and animal production, and more. The United States has put into place many policies and laws that work to regulate agricultural practices and welfare of animals and people. The United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, provides

The US uses multiple animals in agriculture, such as horses for work and therapy, pigs for meat and by-products, sheep for meat, milk, and wool, goats for meat, milk, fiber, and land grazing, and cattle for meat and milk. Additionally, many of these animals are also used as pets. Animals in the US are also used for non-food purposes. For example, cow blood can be used for medicines like insulin and fat can be used for lotions and jet fuel. *benefit* Sheep and Poultry are also used for by-product materials. Switzerland uses many of the same animals for agricultural production. This includes cows for dairy and meat, pigs for meat, and sheep and goats for fiber, milk and meat (Ezringer, et al., 2004). Switzerland agriculture workers also use these animals to make byproducts, but arguably less than the US. Milk is the most important product in Switzerland, as they have extensive milking systems (Ezringer, et al., 2004). Both the US and Switzerland use these products to benefit society and use more environmentally friendly and sustainable

The United States uses methods of diversified farming with multiple crops and animals to promote variety. They also use rotational grazing and promote different species grazing together. Aquaponics is another sustainable practice in the US, where farmers raise fish, and use the nutrient rich water to fertilize crops. In Switzerland, their government added sustainable agriculture practices to their constitution in 1966 and allocate over 3 billion dollars to their agriculture field (Aerni, 2009). Switzerland is more open to providing more extreme measures to ensure sustainability than the United States (Aerni, 2009). Overall, both countries want to benefit the global environment and leave it better than it was found, as well as benefiting the economy and