In Switzerland about one fourth of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are linked to food systems. Reducing these emissions is challenging due to residual emissions from production processes, high abatement costs of some GHG emission reduction strategies, and deeply rooted socio-technical barriers. WP1 investigates the abatement potential along the entire food supply chain, from farms to processors, retailers and consumers. We assess the costs, benefits and acceptance of different strategies and develop concrete recommendations for policymakers, farmers, industry and consumers. We aim to provide insights on how to cut emissions while balancing food production, farm incomes and other environmental impacts. A key focus lies on behavioural aspects that currently limit emission reduction. To this end, we consider the whole agri-food system all its actors and interdependencies between different elements of the food systems, as focusing on elements and actors in isolation would lead to biased policy implications.

Biomass plays a key role in reaching net zero. Plants absorb CO₂ efficiently through photosynthesis, and using harvested biomass as a material, rather than burning it directly, can keep carbon locked away from the atmosphere for longer. Today, most untreated wood in Switzerland is burned for energy. WP2 develops a framework to optimize Swiss biomass flows by defining quantitative and qualitative cascade-use pathways: from construction materials and bio-based chemicals to energy generation and carbon removal via biochar. By tracking carbon content across all biomass flows, we identify the most effective options for long-term carbon storage while assessing environmental risks and co-benefits.

Switzerland’s climate strategy currently plans to rely heavily on CCS and CDR for sectors like cement, waste incineration and the chemical industry. WP3 investigates alternative measures, including circular economy approaches, alternative feedstocks and cross-sectoral synergies, that could reduce these emissions without depending on carbon capture. We focus on four industrial sectors: construction (cement), chemicals and pharmaceuticals, waste treatment, and plastics recycling. By going beyond sector-by-sector analysis, we develop a comprehensive circular economy roadmap with cost-effective decarbonization pathways and practical blueprints for companies.

Switzerland’s climate strategy envisions capturing up to 7 million tonnes of residual CO₂ emissions per year from hard-to-abate sectors and storing it permanently underground by 2050. WP4 addresses the challenges of deploying this infrastructure by designing sector-specific blueprints for CO₂ capture, defining a roadmap for safe and socially accepted underground storage, exploring scenarios for an adaptive CO₂ transport network, and investigating scalable rollout pathways. A strong focus lies on advancing domestic CO₂ storage as a strategic priority to reduce costs and risks associated with exporting CO₂ abroad.

WP5 synthesizes results from all other research work packages to establish integrated transition pathways toward Swiss net-zero goals. Using interdisciplinary methods of technology assessment, energy system modelling as well as stakeholder workshops and surveys, we develop realistic future scenarios at the sector, national and European level. A key innovation is the development of a Swiss-specific Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) that goes beyond existing energy system models by integrating the agri-food system, natural carbon pools, various carbon removal methods and the overall economy. The model incorporates technical, political, resource-related and social implementation barriers to provide realistic, broadly accepted transition scenarios.

Three work packages are dedicated to coordination, integration, and knowledge & technology transfer (KTT). Together, they ensure the alignment of activities and promote effective collaboration within ACHIEVE, while also fostering connections with related projects and external stakeholders.