Sustainability advice for your farm
Do you want to run your farm sustainably so that you, your family, your employees and your livestock enjoy a good life while your agricultural production base is maintained?
RISE sustainability consultancy provides an independent and individual analysis of all relevant areas. It helps you to make decisions with a view to long-term profitable, site-appropriate and socially equitable operational development.
Balancing the farm
On a sustainable agricultural holding, ecology, social aspects and economic efficiency are in balance. For you as a farm manager, it is challenging to stay on top of all the important issues and to assess and prioritise them correctly. You need to deal with difficult questions such as:
- Where is our farm headed? Are we on the right track?
- Will our holding be economically stable, solvent and profitable in the long run?
- Will our soils remain fertile in the future?
- Are the people on the farm motivated and content?
RISE provides you with a systematic overview of your farm’s current situation. All aspects of sustainability are analysed and assessed. Taking into account the farm’s strengths and weaknesses as well as your aspirations and options, suitable development steps and balanced measures are planned together with the consultant.
What are the benefits of RISE sustainability consultancy?
- You get a detailed overall picture of your farm. 48 indicators provide key performance data for all relevant areas such as solvency, profitability, quality of life, farm management, fertiliser use, soils, and animal welfare.
- You will receive a workbook and an analysis report.
- You can use the results for communications with clients and customers.
- On request, scenario analyses, such as conversion to organic farming, can be calculated for you.
- If you so wish, your development process can also be further assisted subsequent to the consultancy.
In which situations does RISE bring particularly great benefits?
- You are faced with decisions for the development of your farm.
- You are planning major investments.
- You are planning a farm handover.
- There are conflicts or or crises.
- You want to make a stopover to review your situation and develop new ideas.
The RISE consultancy process
Content and costs of RISE consulting
The costs and effort required for a RISE survey and consultation on your farm cannot be determined in general terms. The scope depends on your individual needs, goals, the complexity of your farm, and the resulting consulting effort. You can choose from various options, which can also be adjusted during the consulting process. Two example scenarios:
| Criterion | Scenario 1: Detailed RISE Consulting with Coaching | Scenario 2: Compact RISE Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Data Collection | Detailed data collection through an interview | Collection of necessary data for indicator calculation |
| People Involved | Several individuals (employees, family members) | Farm management only |
| Feedback | Strategy development with multiple farm staff | Results are explained, areas for action identified |
| Benefits | Clear action strategy for the coming years with defined responsibilities | Clear status assessment and comparison with other Swiss farms |
| Time Investment | Two days (two visits + preparation and follow-up) | One day (two visits + preparation and follow-up) |
Flexibility and individual customization
The total time required for the analysis usually ranges between 8 and 16 hours, depending on travel time, your specific requirements, and the jointly defined milestones. Meetings can also be conducted partially or entirely online.
Non-binding initial consultation
Contact us for a free preliminary discussion so we can provide you with a customized cost estimate.
Case study
«Thanks to RISE, I was able to visualise my farming practices and possible improvements. The findings encouraged me to change my farming strategy – an enormous challenge that I would not have been able to meet without the support of RISE. The adjustments brought me great professional satisfaction and a significant growth in turnover.»
Claude-Alain Gebhard, a farmer in Vaux-sur-Morges VD.
Communicate your commitment!
Holdings that participate in a RISE sustainability consultation can make their participation and commitment visible to the public. This is not about communicating the analysis results but rather about demonstrating that the business is committed to sustainable development and acts accordingly.
This means (1) that the farm manager, together with RISE consultants, periodically engages with the issues, (2) takes a holistic view of the farm, (3) sets development and/or performance targets based on this information, (4) plans and implements tangible measures and (5) reviews target achievement after a certain period of time. (6) Subsequently, new targets are set, etc.
Showcase your commitment on your website, social media, and in customer conversations to transparently demonstrate your dedication to sustainable business development.
