The Swiss government has rejected a popular initiative aimed at increasing the country's food self-sufficiency to 70% within ten years.

Currently, Switzerland imports nearly half of its food, and the initiative, led by Franziska Herren and others, proposed a shift towards more plant-based agriculture to boost local production.

The initiative also included ecological goals such as preserving clean water and biodiversity.

However, the Federal Council deemed the targets unrealistic, citing the need for a significant overhaul of the agricultural sector, which would involve reducing livestock and increasing crop production.

Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin emphasized that consumers should retain the freedom to choose their diet, and warned that such drastic changes could lead to increased meat imports, undermining ecological benefits.

The government plans to address some of the initiative's concerns in its agricultural policy development for 2030, but without adopting the proposed measures.