Organic consumption: Switzerland is European champion

With a consumption of CHF 454 per capita, Switzerland ranks first in international comparison. Overall, sales of organic products grew by 6.9 percent to 4.075 billion francs despite inflation.

The market share of organic products in retail stands at 11.6 percent.

In no other country in Europe is the organic shopping basket as large as in Switzerland. With expenditure of 454 francs per capita per year, Switzerland ranks first in 2023 — ahead of Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg and Sweden. Germany follows in sixth place and France close behind in seventh place. Thanks to the positive mood among organic consumers, the growth of the organic market defied inflation. Four percent of the total 6.9 percent growth was attributable to general price increases. With a volume of just over 4 billion francs, the Swiss organic market is approaching the record level of 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike then, the growth is not being driven by specialist organic retailers (-6.9%) and direct marketers (-11.3%), but by Coop (+8.7%), Migros (+6.1%), department stores and specialist trade (+10.7%).

Organic share in viticulture larger

As of December 31, 2023, 7,362 (+21) farms were Bud-certified. They cultivated an area of 190,280 hectares. With an organic share of 19.9 percent, the organic share in viticulture exceeded that of the rest of agriculture for the first time. Most new conversions came from the cantons of Bern (+22 organic farms), Lucerne (+13), and Zurich (+12). With 63.7 percent, the canton of Graubünden has by far the largest share of organic farms. Bern remains the canton with the most organic farms, with a total of 1’370 farms. The arable farming offensive launched last year has gotten off to a good start. Due to the transition of the organic bread segment in retail to Swiss Bud grain, grain is still in very high demand. Farms interested in conversion can find out more at the Organic Arable Farming Days on June 26 and 27 in Aubonne VD.

Stable partnerships for the further development of organic farming

At the annual press conference, Bio Suisse representatives emphasized the importance of partnerships with the retail trade for the development of organics in Switzerland. Together, they had succeeded in bringing organic products out of the niche. “In light of the ongoing price discussions, we need to position ourselves clearly and demonstrate why organic is worth its price,” says Bio Suisse President Urs Brändli. He continued: “Coop in particular recognized the value of organic early on. While organic farms do receive direct federal payments for their services, Switzerland has only isolated examples of genuine political promotion of organic farming that acknowledges the value of organics for nature and the environment and deliberately deploys it as part of the solution to a wide range of problems.” This is an area where policy could provide stronger support.

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