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CNN World Report

Swiss Conduct Organic Farming Research

Aired July 01, 2001 - 14:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: Researchers say there is firm evidence that organically grown produce may be healthier to eat than conventional crops. Organic crops (UNINTELLIGIBLE) have measurably higher levels of vitamins which scientists say have many benefits including helping to fight cancer in humans.

Switzerland set up the first institute for organic farming three decades ago. And as Swiss TV SRI reports, it remains the world's biggest. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIET LINLEY, SWISS TV SRI (voice-over): It may not look it, but these buildings make up the world's largest and oldest institute for research into organic agriculture. Situated in Northern Switzerland's town of Frick, the center is spearheading experimentation in farming methods that, according to director, Urs Niggli hold the key to a future free of genetically altered food.

URS NIGGLI, INSTITUTE DIRECTOR: People don't want to eat (UNINTELLIGIBLE) food, and the big advantage of organic food is it's safe, it's healthy, it's good for the environment. It's natural. So I think researchers have to do research where people want to have their food from. LINLEY: The Swiss market for organic food growing at around 20 percent a year. Nearly one in ten shoppers buy organic several times a week. Set up nearly 30 years ago, the research institute couldn't be better located.

(on camera): But its Swiss base is no coincidence. Along with Austria, Switzerland tops the list of countries with the highest percentage of usable farm land dedicated to organic agriculture.

(voice-over): Some 80 scientists work at the institute, amongst them Peter Klocke, who is charged with one of the key projects under way in the nearby experimental farm.

The stable here is a little out of the ordinary. It's roofless in order to maintain an ideal temperature for the cattle. It's open plan to nurture the cow's social hierarchy.

PETER KLOCKE, RESEARCHER: And they have the possibility to contact to each other or avoid contacts if there are differences between two cows. LINLEY: Klocke and his colleague, Christoph Notz are testing homeopathic remedies for mastitis, because traces of the antibiotic often used to treat the udder infection can turn up in milk. Finding alternatives could be beneficial to both consumers as cows.

CHRISTOPH NOTZ, RESEARCHER: Antibiotic therapy in udder health has really low healing rate and we want to use complimentary medicine. That's a difference that we not only look at the udders, we look at the whole animal.

LINLEY (on camera): The scientists here are showing us that by using the powers of resistance that animals, plants, and even the soil, possess naturally, solutions to farming can be found that don't have adverse side effects. Their efforts cannot be underestimated.

This Juliet Linley, of Swiss Television and Swiss Radio International, for CNN WORLD REPORT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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