The Federal Council on Wednesday recommended the rejection of the popular initiative “For safe food”, which notably calls for encouraging plant-based foodstuffs rather than animal-based foodstuffs. He believes that the requirements are unachievable within the given time frame.
The food initiative also plans to increase the net self-sufficiency rate, which must increase from the current 46% to at least 70%. Requirements also concern the preservation of biodiversity, soil fertility, a sufficient quantity of drinking water and environmental objectives for agriculture.
These requirements must be achieved within ten years. It is not the fundamental orientation of the initiative which led to this decision by the Federal Council, but the concrete objectives which appear therein, indicated the Minister of Agriculture Guy Parmelin to the media in Bern.
He shared concerns regarding Swiss food security and the preservation of agricultural resources. He notably recalled the goals pursued by the Federal Council and Parliament to increase the self-sufficiency rate above 50%.
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Affected farmers and consumers
The transformation of the food system desired by the initiative is only possible through major state interventions in the production and consumption of food, according to the minister.
This would have concrete consequences on the agricultural world, which would have to reduce livestock numbers by almost half, especially for pigs and poultry, or reduce the production of bread cereals. Consumers would also be affected.
They would have to radically change their habits following state regulations, which the government does not want. Consumers must continue to have the choice of what they put on their plate, noted the federal advisor.
And to cite other side effects, on shopping tourism or international agreements within the World Trade Organization. It would be counterproductive if it is necessary to import more meat products from abroad or if consumers prefer to buy meat abroad, he illustrated.
In the PA30+
The Vaudois again considered that the initiative is “superfluous”. Work is already underway without the need to amend the Constitution. This is why the Federal Council is not proposing a counter-project.
There is already a sufficient constitutional basis for changing agricultural policy. The government plans to submit for consultation in the second half of 2026 a bill defining the future evolution of the Agricultural Policy from 2030 (PA30+).
Certain demands of the initiative will be taken into account in this framework. The Federal Council will propose measures to strengthen value creation in the agri-food sector, administrative relief for agricultural operations and reduction of the ecological footprint of the agri-food sector. These objectives will be “attainable” and will follow a “realistic timetable”, according to Guy Parmelin.
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