A draft lacking practical relevance

However, the Federal Council's current proposal does not go far enough. The proposed approval process would make the cultivation of new varieties so costly in practice that it would be virtually impossible to achieve any real benefits. Compared to the EU, which is taking a much more pragmatic approach with its differentiated strategy, Switzerland is at risk of falling behind. In addition, many consultation responses clearly show that the Federal Council's draft is not sufficiently evidence-based and does not take existing scientific findings sufficiently into account. From a technical point of view, it is clear that plants bred without foreign DNA should be treated in the same way as those produced using classical mutagenesis. The current proposal takes far too little account of this fact.

Against this backdrop, it is unfortunate that the otherwise very successful overview article in Schweizer Bauer does not highlight this discrepancy more strongly. This indirectly creates the impression that the proposed regulation is already a step towards liberalization – but in fact it is more of a watered-down solution that does not consistently balance opportunities and risks. In particular, the presentation of the arguments of proponents and opponents as equally weighted is misleading. The scientific evidence is clear: the new breeding methods do not pose any particular risks. The arguments of the opponents are therefore more esoteric in nature – this also applies to the so-called “food protection initiative,” which seeks to cement a complete blockade on breeding technology.

As the author of the article writes, Switzerland faces a fundamental decision in the coming months. It is to be hoped that the Federal Council will recognize the signs of the times and pave the way for appropriate, scientifically sound liberalization, so that farmers, who could benefit particularly from the new breeding methods, remain able to act in the future and can make their farms future-proof.