The organic association Bio Suisse has spoken out against an upcoming referendum in June 2021 that aims to restrict Swiss farm income aid payments to those who renounce the use of pesticides and the non-medical use of antibiotics in livestock. .
A popular reason to buy organic food is concern about the negative effects of pesticides on human health and the environment. The June 2021 initiative focuses on reducing the use of pesticides and antibiotics to reduce water pollution and damage to the soil caused by the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and antibiotics. If passed, it would cause an explosion of organic farming in Switzerland.
In a statement Bio Suisse said that the majority of its 73 representatives are against the initiative. But why? Surely an organization that promotes agricultural products grown without pesticides would be in favor of a proposal aimed at reducing the use of pesticides.
Bio Suisse says that over the last 40 years organic production has grown in line with consumer demand. In an interview with RTS, Pascal Olivier from Bio Suisse said that it is important to listen to consumers and keep up with the market to ensure the consistent development of organic products, which are not so easy to produce. If organic production increased faster than demand, it could undermine the higher prices demanded for organic products.
Not everyone in the organic industry agrees with Bio Suisse’s position. Bernhard Hänni, an organic farmer from the canton of Bern, told RTS that Bio Suisse’s position does not make sense. He says that consumers want more organic products, but we cannot produce more because we need to protect the market. This doesn’t make sense, says Hänni.
If organic products were produced at scale, their production would become more efficient, prices would have room to fall, and consumers would buy more. But some smaller and less efficient existing organic farms could feel the pressure.
Furthermore, if the entire nation switched to organic farming, today’s organic growers would have no point of distinction. They would lose their unique selling proposition and probably their margins with it.
As Bio Suisse has shown with its recent decision, promoting organic farming and the health of the environment and people is not the same as protecting the interests of organic farmers.
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