Swiss Vote For Five-Year Moratorium on GM Crops

Filed in archive Food and Agriculture on November 28, 2005

Just an update on the Swiss stance on GM crops: In a national referendum conducted yesterday, 26 November, 55.7% voted for the five-year moratorium on all genetically modified animals and crops, except for use in certain research and to produce medicine.

Opponents of the moratorium, mostly those in the business industry, claim that this would threaten Switzerland's position as a center for gene technology research, and would prevent farmers from using crops which are more pest- and disease-resistant.

Doesn't sound like a good argument, as, according to a separate news report,

Not a single Swiss farmer has ever applied to grow GM crops.

In fact, Swiss farmers themselves support the ban, and would rather concentrate efforts on organic cropping, a market that they believe will be better off without GM crops.