Mountain Agriculture Platform (2011-2019)
Chair: Austria
Mountain agriculture shapes and maintains the Alpine landscape, keeps traditions alive, and is closely linked to other sectors such as tourism and forestry. It has undergone significant changes in the last decades, with an observed abandonment of farms that is particularly striking in some Alpine countries and is often combined with demographic dynamics.
Mountain farming is one of the 12 focus areas listed in the Alpine Convention (Article 2) and the Mountain Farming Protocol was signed in 1994. In addition, the Action Plan on Climate Change in the Alps refers, among others, to mountain farming and the challenges that mountain agriculture faces due to climate change.
In 2011, the XI Alpine Conference set up the Mountain Agriculture Platform underlining the role of farming as a source of livelihood and thus to maintain an adequate population density. Beside this, it provides the inhabitants and tourists with local high-quality products and preserves the cultural landscape.
Overview of activities, documents and results
- Activity Report 2016-2019
- Alpine Signals 8 on Mountain Agriculture (2017)
- Statement on the Contribution of mountain agriculture to food safety in the Alpine Convention Perimeter (2016) - available in German, French, Italian, and Slovenian
- Position paper of the Mountain Agriculture Platform in the context of the Alpine Convention, prepared for the Mountain Farming Conference in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (4 October 2016) - available in German, French, Italian, and Slovenian
- Results of the Platform's consultation in the context of quality labelling - updated with amendments on the Glyphosate and GMO issues (2016) - available in German, French, Italian, and Slovenian
- 8th meeting of the Platform Mountain Agriculture, (May 2015)
- Auswertung des Fragebogens zum Themenschwerpunkt „Beitrag der Berglandwirtschaft zur Ernährungssicherung - Elisabeth Schwaiger
- Präsentation zu Aspekten der Ernährungssicherung - Christian Steiner (NÖ Agrarbezirksbehörde)
- Ein Diskussionsbeitrag seitens der Schweiz zum Thema Ernährungssicherung - Thomas Maier
- Vorstellung der Mountain Week vom 4-11. Juni 2015 während der EXPO in Mailand - Filippo Favilli (EURAC, Bozen)
- 7th meeting of the Platform on the topic of food security and mountain farming (July 2014)
- Beitrag der Berglandwirtschaft zur Ernährungssicherheit und Ernährungssouveränität - Elisabeth Schwaiger
- Ein Diskussionsbeitrag seitens Schweiz zum Thema Ernährungssouveränität - Thomas Maier
- Thema Ernährungssouveränität dargestellt am Beispiel Schweiz - Thomas Maier
- “Sustainable mountain farming – Basis for a vibrant Alpine region” (2014) - available in German, French, Italian, and Slovenian
- Results of the discussion of the Mountain Farming Platform on “marketing, quality and labelling” issues (2013) - available in German, French, Italian, and Slovenian
- 4th meeting of the Platform on the topic "public services of mountain farming and their interactions as well as "human factor" (Programme - in German, French, Italian, and Slovenian)
- Ökosystemleistungen der Berglandwirtschaft - Tasser
- Gesellschaftliche Leistungen der Berglandwirtschaft und deren Wechselwirkungen - Beispiel Österreich - Hovorka
- Gesellschaftliche Leistungen der Berglandwirtschaft und deren Wechselwirkungen sowie der Faktor Mensch - Maier
- Platform meeting on “Commercialisation/Quality/Labelling” - Presentations (January 2012)
- Vermarktung Bergprodukte - Schermer
- Bergprodukte in Österreich - Ritzinger
- Bergprodukte Österreichische Bundesländer - Steiner
- Mountain products South Tyrol & Italy - Streifeneder
- Trzenje, kakovost oznacevanje gorskih proizvodov sloveniji - Cencic
- Kaksne novosti za hribovsko kmetijstvo v okviru SKP - Tome
- Bergprodukte Schweiz - Aebi
- Heritaste® Label - Kugler
- Progress report on the work of the Mountain Farming Platform (2011) - available in German, French, Italian, and Slovenian
- Declaration on Mountain Farming (2011) - available in German, French, Italian, and Slovenian
Sustainable Development Goals
Goal 2
Zero Hunger
Goal 2
Zero Hunger
Quality of life, Climate Change, Mountain Agriculture, Soil Conservation
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
read moreGoal 1
No poverty
Goal 1
No poverty
Quality of life, Mountain Agriculture, Population and Culture
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
read moreGoal 7
Affordable and clean energy
Goal 7
Affordable and clean energy
Quality of life, Energy, Forests, Mountain Agriculture, Water Management
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
read moreGoal 11
Sustainable cities and communities
Goal 11
Sustainable cities and communities
Quality of life, Climate Change, Forests, Mountain Agriculture, Natural Hazards, Population and Culture, Spatial Planning, Transport
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
read moreGoal 12
Responsible consumption and production
Goal 12
Responsible consumption and production
Climate Change, Energy, Forests, Green Economy, Mountain Agriculture, Population and Culture, Tourism, Water Management
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
read moreGoal 15
Life on land
Goal 15
Life on land
Quality of life, Climate Change, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation, Forests, Mountain Agriculture, Soil Conservation, Water Management
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
read moreGoal 17
Partnerships for the goals
Goal 17
Partnerships for the goals
Quality of life, Climate Change, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation, Energy, Forests, Green Economy, Mountain Agriculture, Natural Hazards, Population and Culture, Soil Conservation, Spatial Planning, Tourism, Transport, Water Management
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
read more