The food initiative was tabled on August 16, 2024 after collecting 112,736 valid signatures. In particular, it calls for the agri-food sector to be more focused on the production and consumption of plant-based foodstuffs rather than animal-based foodstuffs. It also plans to strengthen food security by increasing the net self-sufficiency rate, which must increase from the current 46% to at least 70%.
The initiative further requires that the preservation of biodiversity and soil fertility, as well as a sufficient quantity of drinking water, be ensured; finally, the maximum values set in the environmental objectives for agriculture (OEA) for the input of fertilizers and fertilizing elements into the environment must no longer be exceeded. The objectives must be achieved within ten years of acceptance of the initiative.
The Federal Council took the decision on November 13 to reject this initiative, the full title of which is “For safe food – through strengthening sustainable indigenous production, more plant-based foodstuffs and clean drinking water”. He believes that the objectives of the food initiative cannot be achieved within the deadlines set by it, he communicated today.
This especially applies to the increase in the gross self-sufficiency rate, which must increase to 70% within 10 years, while at the same time respecting the environmental objectives for agriculture. Such a transformation of Switzerland’s food system is only possible through major state interventions in the production and consumption of food. As there is also a sufficient constitutional basis for developing agricultural policy in the direction of the objectives of the initiative, the Federal Council recommends rejecting the initiative without a direct counter-proposal or an indirect counter-proposal.
Before tabling the food initiative, Parliament had already tasked the Federal Council with developing the current agricultural policy, following a global approach which integrates, in addition to farmers, the entire food system. The Federal Council will thus draw up a bill on the future development of agricultural policy from 2030 (PA30+), which it will probably put out for consultation in the second half of 2026.
As part of PA30+, the Federal Council will propose measures to strengthen value creation in the agri-food sector and for administrative relief for agricultural operations. The PA30+ will also respond to the main demands of the initiative, such as strengthening food security and reducing the ecological footprint of the agri-food sector. In doing so, the Federal Council will provide achievable objectives and a realistic timetable.
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