Switzerland has emerged as the top consumer of organic products in Europe, spending an average of CHF 454 per person ($513), according to Biosuisse, the umbrella

organization for Swiss organic agriculture. This announcement came during Biosuisse's annual media conference on Wednesday.

In a Europe-wide ranking, Switzerland surpasses countries like Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, and Sweden in per capita consumption of organic products. Germany and France follow closely behind in sixth and seventh places, respectively.

Sales of organic products in Switzerland experienced a growth of nearly 7% in 2023, with 4% of this growth attributed to general price increases, Biosuisse reported. The total market volume of organic products now exceeds CHF 4 billion ($4.52 billion), comprising 11.6% of the retail trade market share.

Unlike the surge seen during the pandemic in 2020, the current growth in the Swiss organic market is driven not by specialized retailers and direct marketers, but by major retailers like Coop and Migros, department stores, and specialty retailers.

By the end of 2023, Switzerland had 7,362 certified organic farms covering 190,280 hectares under the Biosuisse "bud" label. Although the number of organic farms saw minimal change from the previous year, there was a slight increase in certified traders and processing companies, with 48 new additions.

Canton Graubünden boasts the highest proportion of organic farms, representing nearly two-thirds of the total, while Bern hosts the most organic farms at 1,370. Notably, wine production in Switzerland has seen organic production surge to encompass one-fifth of its total output, surpassing other agricultural sectors.

Biosuisse emphasized the pivotal role of partnerships with retailers in expanding organic farming across Switzerland. "In light of ongoing price discussions, we must clearly position ourselves in the market and demonstrate why organic products are worth the price," stated Biosuisse President Urs Brändli in a press release.

Biosuisse, as the owner of the "bud" label, stands for sustainability and represents certified agricultural, horticultural, processing, and trading entities in Switzerland's organic sector. The organization aims to elevate organic farming from niche status to broader consumer acceptance through strategic collaborations with retail partners. Photo by Sandstein, Wikimedia commons.