Initiative against synthetic pesticides submitted

Parliament and the electorate will be called upon to consider a ban on synthetic pesticides in agriculture. A group from Neuchâtel has submitted a corresponding initiative.

Behind the initiative «for a Switzerland without synthetic pesticides» is a committee called «future3.0», which claims to have collected 145’099 signatures. The initiators want to ban synthetic pesticides in agricultural production, in the processing of agricultural products, and in soil and landscape management.

The import of food containing synthetic pesticides or produced with the aid of such substances would also be prohibited. The initiative would need to be implemented at the legislative level within ten years. In the eyes of the initiators, it is “absolutely possible” to ensure the supply of food for people in Switzerland from domestic production and imported foodstuffs without synthetic pesticides. Examples show that farmers who produce without these substances have significantly lower costs.

The committee wants to ban synthetic pesticides. Substances such as copper sulphate would continue to be permitted, and the same would apply to treatments used in organic farming. Fertilisation would likewise remain permissible. However, the initiators want to ban glyphosate — the controversial weedkiller recently approved in the EU for a further five years. The Federal Council classified this herbicide as harmless to consumers in a report.

Also banned would be the neonicotinoids clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, which are harmful to bees. According to the Federal Office for Agriculture, these neonicotinoids may only be used in greenhouses from the end of the year onwards.

The initiative committee consists of seven people from the Neuchâtel region who, according to their own statements, do not belong to any political party. Among them are a winegrower, a professor of soil biology, and entrepreneurs, as stated on the future3.0 website.

Farmers and vegetable growers say No   

This is not the only initiative calling for pesticide bans. The related Drinking Water Initiative has already been submitted. It demands that only agricultural businesses that forgo the use of pesticides and preventively administered antibiotics should receive subsidies.

The Swiss Farmers' Union (SBV) rejects both initiatives. The popular initiative against synthetic pesticides effectively calls for a “organic Switzerland” and would massively increase the cost of farmers' products, the SBV wrote on Friday. Only a small proportion of consumers consistently opt for organic food.

Pesticides are also used in construction, hygiene, and healthcare, the SBV argues. The initiative does not ban these applications. The SBV says it supports the national action plan for plant protection. Careful and responsible use of plant protection products is important.     The Swiss Vegetable Producers Association wants to oppose the initiative, fearing that if it passes, vegetable growers could produce significantly less vegetables and fewer varieties than before. Much larger growing areas would be needed for lower yields. In addition, products would become more expensive.

The Agrar industry group argues that it is not scientifically relevant whether a substance occurs in nature or has been synthesized in a laboratory. What matters are toxicological properties. Furthermore, it is almost impossible to categorize plant protection products into “synthetic” and “natural”.