Pesticide-free but not organic: Adoption of a large-scale wheat production standard in Switzerland

The sustainable intensification of agriculture requires solutions for a large-scale reduction pesticide use while sustaining agricultural yields. Pesticide-free production standards, which bring together the strengths all food value chain actors, could be cornerstone this transformation. In Switzerland, non-organic, private–public standard pesticide-free wheat is currently being introduced by producer organization IP-SUISSE. It first its kind in Europe and may reach market share 50% Swiss production. We here assess determinants farmers' participation willingness to participate future. For our analysis, we combine survey entire population IP-SUISSE producers (4749 farmers, 23.3% response rate) with data on historical farm-level yields, soil properties, weather, climate, weed pressure, spread herbicide resistance. Our results indicate that establishment Switzerland possible. find perceptions positive environmental effects program are key adoption. Moreover, expectations program’s play central role. Farmers perceiving large yield losses increases risks less likely enter program. Based results, discuss implications, leverage points, challenges designing implementing programs.