Swiss voters to cast ballots on pesticide-free farming
Switzerland is holding a referendum that could result in a total ban on synthetic pesticides. But environmentalists, farmers and agrochemical companies are at odds over a potential switch to organic agriculture.
The wholesome world of Heidi? Pesticides and herbicides are commonly used in conventional Swiss agriculture
Wine grower Jean-Denis Perrochet fills his tractor s spray tank with diluted milk. That s what he uses to get rid of fungus on the vines on his vineyard near the town of Neuenburg in northwestern Switzerland.
Perrochet and his family started exclusively using organic farming methods back in 2012. They do not use chemical pesticides, weed killers or artificial fertilizers. Instead, they enrich the soil with homemade compost and remove weeds mechanically.
Main Swiss farmersâ group alarmed by proposed pesticide ban
Opponents argue that the anti-pesticide initiatives will harm Switzerland s agriculture sector and undermine the country s self-sufficiency. Anthony Anex/Keystone
The director of the leading Swiss farmersâ organisation is deeply concerned about two initiatives to ban pesticide. Martin Rufer explains what votersâ approval would mean for Switzerlandâs agriculture.
This content was published on April 27, 2021 - 09:00
April 27, 2021 - 09:00
Giannis Mavris
The two proposals, to come to a nationwide ballot on June 13, are causing heated debates and have not only divided the farmersâ community but also political parties.
The âdrinking water initiativeâ wants farmers to stop receiving crucial government subsidies if they use pesticides, import animal feed or use antibiotics to prevent diseases.
Main Swiss farmersâ group alarmed by proposed pesticide ban
Opponents argue that the anti-pesticide initiatives will harm Switzerland s agriculture sector and undermine the country s self-sufficiency. Anthony Anex/Keystone
The director of the leading Swiss farmersâ organisation is deeply concerned about two initiatives to ban pesticide. Martin Rufer explains what votersâ approval would mean for Switzerlandâs agriculture.
This content was published on April 27, 2021 - 09:00
April 27, 2021 - 09:00
Giannis Mavris
The two proposals, to come to a nationwide ballot on June 13, are causing heated debates and have not only divided the farmersâ community but also political parties.
The âdrinking water initiativeâ wants farmers to stop receiving crucial government subsidies if they use pesticides, import animal feed or use antibiotics to prevent diseases.
Swiss free trade deal with Indonesia narrowly survives referendum Published on Share
Voters in Switzerland have given the green light to a free trade deal with Indonesia with a small majority of 51.6%.
The vote was closer than expected after Zurich (the canton with the most voters) showed its hand last, sealing the fate of the referendum. The main pockets of resistance were the French-speaking cantons such as Geneva (where a lot of commodity firms are based) and Vaud (home of the headquarters of Swiss food giant Nestlé).
Palm oil was at the heart of the referendum on the free trade agreement between Switzerland and Indonesia. The deal aims to facilitate trade with the South-East Asian country and will now remove customs duties on Swiss exports like cheese, pharmaceutical products, and watches.