Call for a counterproposal to the pesticide initiatives

Here in Switzerland, over 300 different pesticides are applied to protect cereals, fruit and vegetables from weeds, insects and fungal attack. This prevents crop failures, and stops worm-eaten fruit and rotten vegetables finding their way to the market. Ideally, such pesticides are effective for only a short time and are then broken down by bacteria. Two pending popular initiatives are seeking to cut or even ban the use of artificial pesticides in Swiss farming. However, according to Prof. Wehrli, it is unrealistic to entirely forgo agrochemicals in the food we grow and import, as the pesticide initiative demands, if we’re to feed a growing worldwide population safely under rapidly changing environmental conditions.

There’s no doubt that those driving the initiatives are tackling a very real and serious problem – recent studies confirm widespread contamination of the groundwater by pesticides, particularly in agricultural areas in on the Swiss Plateau. Prof. Wehrli believes that what is needed in Switzerland are powerful measures that will reduce the risks of pesticide use as rapidly as possible, without unduly restricting agricultural production. The Council of States is to discuss the drinking water and pesticides initiative. That the Economic Commission of the Council of States now intends to draw up a binding proposal for reducing pesticide application with a parliamentary initiative is most encouraging. A logical approach might be to rapidly bring parts of the action plan on pesticides into law in the form of a counterproposal. A binding and hard-hitting pesticide reduction plan would be a compromise that would serve farmers, the population and the environment well.