Food initiative revives battle over Swiss farming policy

Switzerland’s food initiative is reviving the political conflict surrounding the rejected drinking water initiative, according to Swiss public broadcaster SRF. Both campaigns were launched by Franziska Herren and her association Clean Water for All and seek to reshape agriculture, although their approaches differ.

The food initiative calls for Switzerland to pursue a self-sufficiency rate of at least 70 percent. It says this should be achieved by producing fewer plant-based and more animal-based foods, allowing the same amount of land to feed more people. It also seeks stronger drinking water protection and the preservation of soil fertility and biodiversity. The targets would have to be reached within 10 years of the initiative’s acceptance.

Unlike the drinking water initiative, the proposal is framed in a way that initially appears more favourable to agriculture. A higher self-sufficiency rate is also a goal pursued by the Swiss Farmers’ Union. The earlier initiative would have directly withdrawn subsidies from some farms, including those using pesticides or buying in feed for their animals. The food initiative instead refers to reallocating subsidies, apparently in an effort to win greater support in the farming sector.

That strategy has not persuaded the Farmers’ Union, which is strongly opposing the initiative. Herren’s demand for less livestock farming has found little support there. SRF says the opponents began their campaign unusually early, despite the initiative having no backing from any political party or larger organisation. This suggests the union wants to prevent Herren from gaining ground and is aiming for a decisive rejection.

The dispute also reflects the aftermath of the drinking water campaign, which was clearly rejected on June 13, 2021. Relations between the two sides deteriorated during that campaign, with farmers feeling personally attacked. Herren was subsequently labelled a “farmers’ scourge”.

The initiative has also failed to win support from the political left. Some Green representatives criticise the attempt to achieve more environmentally friendly farming through a higher self-sufficiency rate. They argue that reaching 70 percent within 10 years is too ambitious. The Social Democratic Party takes a similar view.

Political strategy may also be a factor, SRF reports. A renewed confrontation between the Farmers’ Union and the initiative’s supporters was expected after the earlier dispute. Left-wing parties may therefore want to avoid the risk of another painful and politically damaging defeat.