Agriculture Farmers' Association delegates confirm Ritter as President

The centrist National Councillor Markus Ritter (SG) will remain President of the Swiss Farmers' Union (SBC) for a further four years. The delegates confirmed him in his position on Wednesday in Bern. Anne Challendes and Alois Huber will remain as Vice-Presidents.

Damien Humbert-Droz is a new member of the presidency, the association announced. The Neuchâtel native succeeds Fritz Glauser as the new representative for French-speaking Switzerland. The re-elected Challendes is President of the Swiss Farmers' and Rural Women's Association, Huber is a National Councillor (SVP/AG). Ritter, an organic farmer, has headed the SBC since 2012.

In addition to the renewal elections, the delegates discussed securing agricultural contributions in the 2025 federal budget and the 2025 to 2029 payment framework. Making savings at the expense of agriculture is an absolute taboo.

The agricultural budget has not been stable in inflation-adjusted terms for over 25 years, while federal expenditure has risen by 80 percent, the delegates argued. The requirements for receiving funds had increased and agricultural income was low. According to a report by the Federal Council, the hourly wage is 17 francs.

The SBC delegates expect the future agricultural policy to integrate the entire value chain and significantly simplify regulations and the administrative burden.

Following the successful vote on the biodiversity initiative, the SBC is looking forward to two further initiatives that affect farmers: the environmental responsibility initiative and the food initiative. The latter calls for production to be geared towards plant-based nutrition. In its communiqué, the SBC described it as a "bought vegi initiative".

SDA