Agriculture National Council begins debate on food initiative
The food initiative is likely to have a difficult time in parliament. This is evident from the first part of the debate on the popular initiative in the National Council. It began its deliberations on Wednesday.
10.12.2025, 12:05
SDA
The large chamber has not yet made any decisions on the popular initiative. The food initiative calls for food production to be increasingly geared towards plant-based food. Specifically, it calls for a net level of self-sufficiency in food of at least 70 percent.
The National Council's Economic Affairs Committee voted almost unanimously and unanimously against the initiative. Speakers from all parliamentary groups also spoke out against the initiative during the debate.
The Federal Council rejects the initiative. The national government and the Commission argue that the initiative can only be achieved by intervening deeply in the production and consumption of food. Freedom of choice would be drastically restricted.
The debate will continue on December 17. The National Council will also have to decide on a counter-proposal. A red-green minority of the National Council's preliminary consultation committee is proposing an alternative constitutional article. This is limited to the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity as well as the protection of water quality, soil fertility and biodiversity.
