Switzerland joins farmers’ protests by sending 30 tractors onto the streets of Geneva

This Saturday, Swiss farmers joined industry protests that have been taking place in Europe for weeks in support of agricultural activities, with a parade of about 30 tractors on the streets of Geneva.

“We, young people, are very frightened by not knowing whether our profession really has a future. It’s very sad to see the previous generation having difficulty making a profit and upgrading their equipment to do what politics demands of us: to produce in a more environmentally friendly way,” said 19-year-old winemaker Antonin Ramu in an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP).

While Ramu welcomed the move towards greener agriculture, he asked for more support for the sector and reminded that it is impossible to compete with those who do not meet the same requirements, meaning imports from outside the European Union.

The tractors were escorted by police concentrated in the center of Geneva. About 200 people took part in the protest.

The protest was called by Uniterre after the Swiss Peasants’ Union published a document this week with the sector’s demands.

“This is the first concentration of peasants in Switzerland after the demonstrations and blockades that are taking place throughout Europe. In Switzerland, many people say that the situation is different and that we are not subject to the policies of the European Union. […]but we have the same structure,” said Uniterre trade unionist Elin Müller.

In Belgium, farmers this Saturday continued to block several food distribution centers in the supermarkets Aldi, Lidl, Intermarché and Delhaize, despite threats from employers, which has already led to disruptions in the operation of some products.

On Friday, employers threatened protesters with legal action if the protests did not stop.

These lockdowns have already caused some product disruptions on Belgian supermarket shelves.

Supermarkets Aldi, Lidl and Delhaize have announced they are holding talks with farmers to try to stop the protests.

In total, three Aldi, two Intermarché, two Delhaize and one Lidl distribution centers are blocked.

In the southern region, farmers blocked traffic on two minor roads near Bouillon, and in the port of Zeebrugge the blockade has already been lifted.

Belgian farmers have been protesting for a week against low prices paid by food distributors, excessive bureaucracy, environmental regulations and imports from outside the European Union that do not meet the same requirements.

This Thursday, more than 1,300 tractors blocked Brussels.

European farmers have taken to the streets in recent weeks, cutting up roads with tractors and straw bales, demanding flexibility in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and more support for the sector. These actions have already forced governments to take new measures.