Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Local, high-quality food is already popular – but will the Swiss pay more for ethical farming?
Switzerland is going to the polls on Sunday, in not one but two votes which campaigners say will promote ethical and sustainable food.
The votes follow scandals in the last few years over horse meat in lasagna and the destruction of rain forests to make way for palm oil and cattle ranching.
And they reflect growing consumer interest – not just in Switzerland but across Europe – in where food comes from and how it is produced.
Why two votes, and what’s the difference?
Switzerland’s system of direct democracy means campaigners simply have to gather 100,000 signatures to ensure a nationwide vote on a political issue.
The first proposal, called “fair food”, wants more government support for sustainable, animal friendly products – and more detailed labeling so consumers know what they are getting.
It also calls for a crackdown on food waste, and for imports to meet Swiss standards on workers’ conditions, environmental safety, and animal welfare.
This would mean Swiss inspectors checking foreign food producers for compliance.
The second, called “food sovereignty” goes even further, calling for much greater state support for local family farms, for higher tariffs on food imports, and for foreign produce that does not meet Swiss standards to be banned.
What do farmers say?
Many Swiss farmers support the proposals.
The price of milk has been falling, and an average of 1,000 Swiss farms a year are closing, many of them traditional alpine dairy farms.
Kilian Baumann, who has switched to organic beef on the farm that has been in his family for over a century, believes the future of agriculture lies in local family farming.
“I think things need to change in the food industry, we are making too many mistakes, in sustainability and with animal welfare,” he says.
Ulrike Minkner, who has also abandoned dairy for organic beef, agrees. “We’re not against trade,” she says.
“This is about defending good food and good standards in Switzerland and abroad.”
Other farmers are skeptical.
BBC