Agriculture Uniterre presents demands for future agricultural policy

Guaranteed and higher prices, local and diversified food production and an insured right to good quality food: the farmers' union Uniterre has presented its demands for Swiss agricultural policy from 2030 in Bern.

With toy tractors driven against a symbolic wall on the Bundesplatz, Uniterre underlined its demands for new political rules in the agricultural market on Tuesday. These include guaranteed prices, never below production costs. Uniterre is assuming an hourly wage of CHF 40 instead of the current CHF 15 to 17.

Border protection for agricultural products should be strengthened and agriculture should be excluded from all negotiations on free trade agreements. Uniterre wants to reduce food waste by dispensing with strict size requirements for fruit and vegetables in the retail trade.

Better access to agricultural land for non-farmers is intended to promote generational change. In the next ten to fifteen years, more than half of farmers will retire, writes Uniterre.

Uniterre wants to overhaul the direct payment system and counteract structural change in the process. In addition to contributions to production, subsidies for artisanal processing are required. Direct payments should be based on the number of workers on the farm and no longer on the area farmed.

In the agricultural policy from 2030 (AP30+), Uniterre wants to include a "social food insurance" financed by wage contributions, along the lines of the AHV. Contributions from this insurance would allow households to buy high-quality, locally produced food. According to the Federal Council, the consultation on AP30+ should take place in the second half of 2026.

SDA