Switzerland’s domestic agriculture covers only 52% of the country's food needs, and it must do more to ensure food security, the Swiss Farmers’ Union said on Friday.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/jc
Русский
ru
Продовольственная независимость Швейцарии в опасности?
The 52% represents the so-called net self-sufficiency rate of the last three years, it explains. This means the coming Sunday is “Food Overshoot Day”, when Switzerland will have statistically consumed all the food it produces and will be dependent on imports until the end of the year. “We are therefore relying on growing areas in other countries for our supplies, and continuing to increase our ecological footprint through consumption,” it says.
The farmers’ union also denounces Swiss food waste, saying that around a third of all food produced ends up in the bin.
At a joint press conference on Friday with the sustainability label IP-Suisse, the farmers’ union called for Swiss action to ensure domestic and global food security. It says the watchwords are strengthening ecological and animal-friendly production and transforming the current agricultural policy into a sustainable one.
As in the rest of the world, agricultural land is disappearing in Switzerland, productivity is stagnating and climate-related cultivation risks are increasing, while demand is growing due to population growth.
The union also points out that recent crises such as the war in Ukraine highlight the fragility of supply chains, and that it is developing countries that have suffered the most food insecurity as a result.
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
How is your country dealing with the return of stolen artifacts?
Western nations like Switzerland often have to deal with the process of recovering or returning looted artifacts which have been illegally imported. What’s the situation like in your country?
Norwegian zombie film wins main prize at Swiss festival NIFFF
This content was published on
More than 55,000 people celebrated the fantastic film at the International Fantastic Film Festival in Neuchâtel (NIFFF) - fewer than last year.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss agriculture remains under pressure despite success at ballot box
This content was published on
The Swiss have expressed their commitment to a strong national agriculture, but the debate on the environmental impact of food will not stop.
Voters reject ethical overhaul of animal farming rules
This content was published on
Swiss citizens have comprehensively turned down an initiative to ban intensive livestock farming and boost animal welfare.
This content was published on
Over 60% of Swiss voters have thrown out a pair of initiatives aiming to ban the use of synthetic pesticides in the country.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.