Swiss potato farmers are facing a challenging year due to adverse weather conditions and a fungal outbreak.

The wet and cold spring of 2024 has led to a rapid spread of the late blight fungus, significantly reducing the yield of organic potatoes.

As a result, Switzerland will need to import organic potatoes starting January to meet demand.

Farmers like Heinz Höneisen emphasize the importance of sustainable farming, despite acknowledging that purely organic methods cannot feed the world.

Meanwhile, Ruedi Fischer, President of the Swiss Potato Producers, highlights the financial and environmental pressures on farmers, exacerbated by climate change.

The industry is exploring new breeding methods to develop more resilient potato varieties, but these efforts are hampered by Switzerland's ban on genetic modification techniques like CRISPR/Cas.

The future of Swiss potato farming may depend on balancing sustainability with technological advancements.