Slurry Law Lucerne: Federal Court Insists on Implementation

420’000 Pigs, More Than People

420’000 pigs live permanently in the canton of Lucerne, more than the number of people.

The maximum values for fertilizers prescribed by the environmental targets for agriculture since 2008 are massively exceeded due to the high livestock populations.

Excessive slurry, phosphorus and nitrogen thereby damage soil fertility, biodiversity, forests and drinking water. And Lake Baldegg, Lake Hallwil and Lake Sempach have had to be artificially oxygenated for decades due to excess slurry.

Federal Court: Slurry Law Must Be Implemented

The Federal Court has now ruled that the new slurry law of the canton of Lucerne must be implemented. This means less slurry in the catchment areas of the lakes and that livestock numbers may no longer be increased. A total of 145 affected farmers had filed a lawsuit against this.

The ruling is landmark for a healthy environment, more plant-based rather than animal-based food, and for ensuring clean drinking water, biodiversity and soil fertility.

Subsidies Prevent Realignment

Agricultural policy massively subsidizes the production and consumption of animal-based food over plant-based food with our tax money — 2.3 billion versus 0.5 billion francs — thereby preventing the urgently needed realignment of the food and agricultural sector.

That it can be done differently is proven by Hanspeter Hunkeler on his farm in the canton of Lucerne. He has switched to fewer animals. And on his arable land he grows spelt, wheat, maize and soya — not as animal feed, but for direct human consumption. This way, he harvests more than ten times the calories for us humans from his arable land. In doing so, he uses biodiversity for his production, because the more biodiversity on the fields, the higher the yield.

You can help all animals and our planet with compassion. Choose empathy on your plate and in your glass. Go vegan.