Farmers’ association delegates confirm Ritter as president
Published: Wednesday, Nov 20th 2024, 13:10
Back to Live Feed
The centrist National Councillor Markus Ritter (SG) will remain President of the Swiss Farmers' Union (SBC) for another 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 has been appointed to 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, while 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 dealt with securing agricultural contributions in the 2025 federal budget and the 2025 to 2029 payment framework. Saving money 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 the funds have increased and agricultural income is 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 SBV described it as a "bought vegi initiative".
©Keystone/SDA
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic