For the complete production of organic bread at Coop from Swiss Bud grains, an additional cultivation area of around 2,800 hectares is required. This aims to enable the production of 10,600 tonnes more organic wheat. The expansion of Swiss organic bread grains is closely linked to crop rotation, which forms the foundation for successful and sustainable cultivation. Since grain cannot be grown on the same field every year, more bread grains automatically result in additional quantities of other cultures, such as oats, legumes, root crops like potatoes, or oilseeds. This is where Coop steps in: As a reliable partner of Swiss organic agriculture, Coop is committed to not only purchasing bread grains but also creating sales opportunities and, thus, a market for further crop rotation cultures. For this purpose, a specific project for crop rotation was launched together with Bio Suisse.
Advantages of Crop Rotation Crop rotation ensures that a different culture is cultivated on the same area each year. This strengthens plant resilience, reduces diseases and pests, promotes soil fertility and biodiversity, and contributes to stable yields in the long term. For organic producers of today and tomorrow, this holistic approach is crucial. In addition to promoting Swiss organic bread grains, Coop has already implemented other concrete steps: In the Panofina bakery, Swiss organic sunflower oil is used, the transition to Swiss organic oats is being advanced, and additional quantities of Swiss organic beet sugar are being sourced. Further transitions are already planned for millet flakes. Thus, Coop gradually creates new markets for Swiss organic crop rotation cultures, making their cultivation more attractive for agricultural enterprises.
Swiss Products Have Priority for Coop With this commitment, Coop sets another clear example for Swiss organic products in line with the Coop sustainability strategy. Imports only complement the offering when raw materials within the crop rotation are not yet available in sufficient quantities from Switzerland. The project 'Organic Bread from 100 Percent Swiss Bud Grains' exemplifies Coop's holistic approach: To desire more Swiss organic bread grains requires reliable perspectives for the other cultures in the crop rotation as well.