Organic brochure EN

FOR PEOPLE, ANIMALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
in cooperation with

Dear reader,
Healthy eating starts with purchasing. And
purchasing begins with the purchasing policy.
Our policy is: fresh, seasonal and regional.
Because as a Swiss catering company, we think
it's important to support Swiss agriculture.
That's why 100% of our organic food comes
from Swiss producers.
Even though the retail trade currently makes
about 10 % of its turnover with organic
products, restaurants still find it difficult to
offer organic products because they are
much more expensive.
So if you don't want to scare your guests away
with double or triple the price, you have to plan
and calculate very carefully. Especially when it
comes to organic meat, we work closely and
directly with the producers and plan our menus
accordingly on what they have to offer. This way
both parties win: the producer can use and
sell the whole animal (not just the good parts)
and we get a good price for organic meat that
we can pass on to our guests.
In addition to the good price, our guests
benefit from the best quality, more taste and
the certainty of eating truly healthy and
sustainable food. These are the values that
unite Bio Suisse, the organic producers and
the chefs at Eldora.
Culilnary regards,
Christian Moser
Executive Chef Eldora Deutschschweiz
2 3

Organic food
out of
love
for our
nature
4 5

26
BIO
Farmer‘s Day
32
Content
We love organic food
8 Organic? Of course – BIO Farmer's Day
10 From the organic farm to our plate
12 Why "organic" has its price
14 The organic labels
16 We proudly present: Our organic farmers
Ueli-Hof
Rathgeb Bio
Family Schori, organic eggs
30 Biodiversity: more diversity for the bees
36 A glance into the future
16
24
7

Organic?
Of course!
You can find the term "organic"
on many products. But what
exactly does organic mean?
The word "organic" has its origins in the old
greek language standing for "something related
to an organ or instrument". By the mid 20 th century
people started to use it for produce that is
"fed" with organic material and no fertiliser or
pestizides are used. Organic farming therefore
means a method of cultivation in which the
natural processes in the life of plants, animals and
humans are taken into account and protected.
The soil is cultivated without chemical fertilisers
and pesticides. The plants on the soil serve as
food for the animals and their manure in turn as
fertiliser for the plants. This creates a sustainable
cycle.
such as the Appenzell bearded partridge. Every
organic farm also has a green area (flower meadows,
hedges, biotopes) that is not tilled and
creates additional habitat for various wild animal
species. This makes it possible to discover animal
species on organic farms that are almost impossible
to find anywhere else.
Organic
vegetables,
fruits, grain
Organic food and
feed
Organic
meat, eggs,
milk
animal welfare
compost
Natural fertiliser
BIO FARMER'S DAY
Quality, enjoyment, health
and sustainability are important
values in our purchasing.
At Eldora, we take our responsibility
towards our guests very
seriously. That's why we have
long-standing business relationships
with our suppliers and
partners.
Eldora and Bio Suisse have been cooperating
since 2018. Both Eldora and Bio Suisse want to
support sustainability in Switzerland and promote
the demand for organic food. In addition to the
fact that an organic ingredient is on the menu in
the Eldora restaurants at least once a week, the
Bio Farmer's Day is held fiv e times a year.
With the Bio Farmer's Day, we present organic
farmers in more detail and thus put their great
organic products in the spotlight for one day
each. From crunchy organic vegetables to juicy
organic meat and fresh organic eggs – where it
says organic, it says pure nature. And you
can taste it too.
For a great diversity of species
Organic farms promote biodiversity and thus
rediscover "old" species of animals and plants,
*graphic: Bio Suisse
Fertile soil
& Biodiversity
8

3.
From the farm
to the plate
BIO- AND SPECIES
DIVERSITY
Flower meadows, hedges or
piles of branches: in an "imperfect"
garden and courtyard,
rare animal species also
find nesting sites and habitats.
More than half of the Swiss people
buy organic products daily or several
times a week. But why should one
choose an organic product?
An apple is always an apple,
isn't it? Yes, but there is more
good in organic products than
meets the eye.
PROCESSING
Organic products contain only natural
ingredients, i.e. no colourings or flavourings.
And as natural as possible also means
4.
as few processing steps as necessary. For
example, Bio Suisse orange juice must not
be made from concentrate and organic
milk must not be highly pasteurised. In
addition: as much packaging as needed,
as little as possible. Packaging must offer
optimal product protection and keep the
environmental impact low.
1.
EXERCISE AND ORGANIC FEED
FOR THE ANIMALS
Plenty of space and regular exer-
2.
NO ARTIFICIAL FERTILISER,
NO SYNTHETIC CHEMICAL
PESTICIDES
No pesticides, no genetic engi-
6.
TRANSPARENCY AND TRACEABILITY
Every organic product from Bio Suisse can
be traced back to the farm.
TRANSPORT
5.
cise are reflected in the health of
neering – this protects the soil
Organic and non-organic products may only be
the animals and this in turn in good
and promotes biodiversity.
transported together if they are appropriately
quality products. Animals also eat
Only natural fertiliser such as
packaged and each box is clearly labelled as
organic feed – and that comes
cow dung or compost is used.
organic by the supplier. Air imports are prohibited
mainly from their own farm, makes
and imported products only come from
sense, right?
nearby countries.
10 11

Why "organic"
has its price
Did you
know that...?
... in Switzerland, but also abroad, food is
cheaper than ever before? Sad but true: Throwing
away food almost doesn't hurt us financially in Switzerland.
Statistics show that the weighted share of
food waste in households in Switzerland is around 38%.
That is one thing.
However, if one were to calculate the true costs of
food for humans and the environment (including consequential
damage from nitrogen, greenhouse gas
emissions and energy consumption), food
would have to be sold at a much
higher price.
As with many great things, the
same applies to "organic": good
things take time. An organic
farmer takes a lot of time so that
he can show more consideration
for animals and nature.
In crop cultivation, fertiliser is used only sparingly
and synthetic chemical pesticides are not used
at all. This environmentally friendly cultivation
method requires more work and often results
in less abundant harvests: yields are reduced by
20 to 30%.
Species-appropriate animal husbandry needs
a lot of space as well as a lot of time. Organic
feed is an additional cost factor that should not
be underestimated.
Living soil
The condition of the soil and the maintenance
of its fertility are of central importance to the
organic farmer. At regular intervals, an organic
farm must therefore reserve part of its cultivated
area for the cultivation of plants that help the
soil to recover and accumulate nitrogen for
future cultivation phases. This land is therefore
not available for the cultivation of vegetables
and fruits.
In addition, around 7% of the agricultural land
on "Bio Suisse" farms is permanently reserved
to generate more biodiversity.
12 13

Organic labels
Conscious shoppers like to use
labels as a guide. Regional,
seasonal, sustainable - but it
is often hard to keep track
of the label jungle. How does
"Bio Suisse" actually differ
from "EU organic certificate"?
Is "organic" not the same as
"organic"?
Here we briefly introduce the
most important labels.
The "Bio Swiss" bud is one of the strictest
organic labels in the world. Domestic
products are highlighted by the Swiss
cross in the label. In Switzerland, farmers
must produce organically on a whole-farm basis
if they want to fulfill the Bio Suisse label. This
means that a farmer cannot simply "grow only"
organic potatoes, but must produce organically in
every single area of the farm. The label achieves
above-average results in all assessment areas
and product ranges because it sets high standards
for the environment as well as in the areas
of animal welfare and social issues.
The Bud without the Swiss flag stands
for foods in which more than 10% of the
raw materials originate from foreign organic
production. These raw materials produced
abroad are subject to equivalent guidelines
and controls as "Bio Swiss" bud products.
*The following labels are based in whole or in part
on the "Bio Swiss" guidelines: Coop Naturaplan,
Migros Bio Schweiz (unprocessed products), Manor
bio natur plus Schweiz, KAG Freiland, Natura Beef
Bio Schweiz, Weide Beef Bio Schweiz, Fidelio.
«Demeter» is the oldest organic label.
In addition to the "Bio Swiss" standards,
Demeter farms must meet additional
requirements. Demeter farmers use
the energies from nature for soil improvement
and quality enhancement (e.g. the positive
effect from the changing constellations of sun,
moon & planets). In contrast to organic farms,
animal husbandry is mandatory for Demeter.
This is the only way to create a cycle between
animals and nature. With natural substances it is
ensured that the soil gets back the nutrients
that have been extracted from it. In addition,
fewer additives and processing steps are
permitted during processing than for other
products.
The euro leaf on a green background is
the "EU organic logo". The hexagonal
mark for German organic products
was replaced by the EU organic
seal in 2010 and no longer has an independent
message. The "EU-Bio-Logo" scores lower than
"Bio Swiss" in the areas of irrigation, biodiversity,
climate and social issues because there are few
or no requirements. For example, it is allowed to
run only a single area of the farm organically.
14 15

We proudly present:
Our organic
partners
We know our producers.
We love the stories about the
products, the people who
make them and the places
where they come from.
After all, high-quality gastronomy is only possible
if we have fresh, first-choice products available
every day. For this to happen, there must
be trust on both sides. Eldora also takes care to
select the best local suppliers who are close to
each restaurant.
Did you
know that...?
... only farms that manage
the whole farm organically are
allowed to carry the Bio Suisse
Logo? The conversion of a
conventional farm to an
organic farm takes
about two years.
Eldora does not make short-term promises, but
creates long-term, sustainable and fair partner-
ships. Business management thinking is also
part of a flourishing business relationship: it is
our job to successfully manage our customers'
gastronomy. With our passion, pursuit of excellence
and, last but not least, our enthusiasm for
innovation, we not only have good ideas, but
also make sure that the implementation is right.
Eldora works with selected
organic partners. They are
at home in the prettiest
places of Switzerland. In
cooperation with Bio Suisse, we put some of
them in the spotlight – including their great,
natural products.
16 17

Did you
know that...?
Ueli-Hof
With organic farming, Ueli-Hof
in Ebikon, Lucerne, ensures a
natural coexistence of humans
and animals in an intact natural
environment. Because when
the animals are happy, you see
it on the field – and ultimately
taste it on your plate.
Under strict organic and ethical guidelines,
Ueli-Hof is deeply committed to conscious meat
consumption that is in harmony with people,
animals and the environment. The result of
their commitment are organic products of the
highest quality for responsible meat enjoyment.
What began many years ago as
a farm shop led to the founding
of Ueli-Hof AG in 2002. From
then on, Walter and Ueli Unternährer
implemented their vision of ensuring a meat
consumption that is in harmony with people,
animals and the environment. Today, several
organic farms in Central Switzerland and neighbouring
cantons are committed to this vision
on a daily basis as the Ueli-Hof producer
association. The animals are slaughtered and
processed in the farm's own butchery in
Ebikon.
«
Meat is a side dish and
not everything else.
Ueli Unternährer
...organic meat is seasonal? The reason
for this is that organic farms are often
located in the mountains. During the
summer, the animals are on the alps and
graze on the lush summer grasslands.
That is why organic beef, veal and
lamb are scarcer in the summer
months than in other
months.
18 19

Minced beef with pasta
with meat from Ueli-hof
Serves 4 people
The Ueli-Hof butchery
The exclusive in-house slaughtering
in Ebikon guarantees an
extra ordinary quality. Because
"organic" does not simply end
after the species-appropriate
husbandry on the farm.
Slaughtering in their own butchery guarantees
respectful treatment of the animal not only on
the farm, but also on its final journey. Often the
farmers accompany their animals until the end.
Ueli-Hof's meat specialities are the result of a
self-conception that is unique in Switzerland.
Here, everything is taken into one's own hands:
From species-appropriate animal husbandry
and in-house slaughtering to the processing
and sale of the meat products in the company's
own shops.
A good butcher who respects the animals and
takes his time is very important. This is necessary
for careful meat processing and guarantees that
the quality of the meat is high and sustainable.
Moreover, the whole animal is processed "from
nose to tail" – from noble cuts to so-called
"second cuts" to organic dog food.
Eldora AG has gained a long-term partner in
the Ueli-Hof, in whose butchery training and
further education courses for Eldora employees
also take place.
www.uelihof.ch
MINCED BEEF
500 g Minced beef from Ueli-Hof
1 tbsp Butter (to fry)
1 Onion, chopped
1 Clove of garlic, chopped
3–4 Marjoram and thyme twigs
1 tbsp Tomato puree
1½ tbsp Cornflour
1 dl Red wine
2 dl Bouillon
Salt, pepper and paprika
PASTA
400 g Swiss Hörnli Pasta
100 g Grated Alpine cheese
APPLE SAUCE
1,5 dl Water
2 tbsp Lemon juice
2 tbsp Sugar
½ tsp Cinnamon
800 g Apples , cut in slices
PREPARATION
Simmer all the ingredients for the apple sauce
until soft and purée. Brown the meat in butter.
Reduce the heat and fry the onion, garlic, herbs
and tomato puree. Mix in the cornflour and
deglaze with red wine and stock. Season the
sauce to taste and simmer, covered, for about
15 minutes. Cook the pasta in salted water until
al dente and drain. Divide the applesauce into
small bowls. Arrange the pasta, minced meat
and cheese on plates.
20
21

Rathgeb Bio has various cultivation areas in
Unterstammheim and a greenhouse in Tägerwilen,
TG. The farm is one of the leading
Swiss organic companies. Find more here:
www.rathgeb.bio
Did you
know that...?
... Cucumbers absorb pesticides
particularly strongly? That's why
you should always go for organic
cucumbers. Swiss cucumbers
are in season from May to
October.
Rathgeb Bio
Can organic also work on a large
farm? Yes, because organic has
basically nothing to do with the
size of the farm.
Many people associate "organic" with a small
farm with grazing cows, flowering meadows,
clucking chickens in the yard and a lot of
manual labour. This conception not wrong, but
the demand for organic products is steadily
increasing. In order to be able to offer enough,
cultivation, harvesting, storage, washing, pack-
aging and transport are now more efficient.
That is why there are also large-scale farms like
Rathgeb Bio in Switzerland. Since 1994, they
have been producing over 60 varieties of fresh
organic vegetables: from carrots to potatoes,
spinach, tomatoes and cucumbers. And large at
Rathgeb are not only the planted fields, but also
the many compensatory areas, which provide
an important habitat for insects, flowers and
small animals: in other words, biodiversity par
excellence...
Crooked cucumbers or twisted
carrots: Nature has a mind of its
own. That is why not every carrot
looks like the other.
Too small, too big, too crooked: in Switzerland,
almost 30% of the fruit and vegetables grown
are thrown away because they do not meet
the commercial standard. Even if this means a
little more effort for us in the kitchen, we want
to save fruit and vegetables with so-called
"blemishes" in our Eldora restaurants. Because a
crooked cucumber tastes just as delicious as its
straight colleagues – if not even a little better...
22 23

Did you
know that...?
...the potato is actually quite low
in calories compared to pasta and
rice? Provided, of course, that
you don't deep-fry them...
Potato: 70 kcal / 100 g
Pasta: 140 kcal
Rice 120 kcal
Organic Swiss meatloaf
With wild garlic, potato mash and honey glazed carrots
Serves 4 people
The lemon of the north
The potato has it all: in addition to vitamin B6,
potassium and magnesium, it contains a lot of
vitamin C – more than in an average apple.
That is why our favourite tuber is also called the "lemon of the north".
So the prejudice that the potato is just a filling side dish without added
value is wrong. And what about its reputation as a fattening food?
The fat content of the potato is only 0.1 %. So if you pay attention to
low-fat preparation (e.g. salted potatoes or jacket potato), the potato can
score as a healthy source of energy. Because of their high starch content,
potatoes are also ideal for filling up.
variety of potatoes
INGREDIENTS
1 kg Organic Swiss meatloaf,
e.g. from Ueli-Hof
800 g Organic potatoes, e.g. Bintje, Désirée
40 g Butter
1 bunch Wild garlic (or other seasonal herbs)
Salt, pepper, nutmeg
350 g Organic carrots
2 tbsp Olive oil
1 tbsp Honey
1 tbsp Orange juice
Salt, pepper
PREPARATION
Bake the meat loaf in the bottom half of the
oven preheated to 160°C for 45–55 minutes.
bake.
potatoes steam out. Add butter, wild garlic and
a little water if needed. Mash the potatoes with
a potato masher or a fork and season. Tip: If you
want the mashed potatoes especially green, mix
the wild garlic with a little olive oil beforehand.
Wash the carrots and chop as desired. Mix the
remaining ingredients to make a marinade, rub
the carrots with the marinade and leave to
marinate for a while. Place the carrots on a
baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake for
30 minutes at 160°C with the meat loaf. Remove
the meat loaf from the oven and let it rest
for a short time. During this time, increase the
heat in the oven to 200°C and bake the carrots
on the highest setting for 5 minutes.
For the mash, cook the peeled potatoes uncovered
in boiling salted water for approx. 20 minutes
until soft. Drain the water and let the
Serve it with a fried egg, grainy mustard or
mustard sauce.
BINTJE
DÉSIRÉE
GOURMANDINE
LAURA
NICOLA
floury, light yellow,
floury,
firm cooking,
rather floury, deep
firm cooking,
versatile, very
light yellow, red
yellow, for potato
yellow, versatile,
fair to deep yellow,
good storage
skin, storable
salad and boiled
good storage
fine, moist
qualities
potatoes
qualities
24 25

Organic beef burger
with cole slaw and caramelised onions
Serves 4 people
BURGER
4 Organic burger buns
4 Organic beef patty,
e.g. from Ueli-Hof
40 g Organic salad
e.g. Lettuce, ice berg, arugula
Organic ketchup
CARAMELISED ONIONS
2 large organic onions
1 tbsp Butter
1 tsp Olive oil
50 g Brown sugar
1 dl Red wine vinegar
1 Bay leaf
COLE SLAW
¼ Organic white cabbage,
¼ Organic red cabbage
2 Organic carrots
all above finely chopped
80 g Organic mayonnaise
Salt, pepper, lemon juice
PREPARATION
Peel the onions and cut them into 2 cm thick
slices. In a non-stick frying pan, melt the
butter, olive oil and raw sugar over a low heat.
Add the onions and fry them for 5 minutes.
Add the red wine vinegar and bay leaf, cook
over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until
soft, about 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.
For the cole slaw, marinate the vegetables
with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Leave to
marinate for 10 minutes, pour off excess liquid.
Mix with mayonnaise and season to taste.
Tip: If you like it a little lighter, you can use
yoghurt instead of mayonnaise.
Sear or grill the burger patties on both sides
for approx. 2 minutes (our recommendation:
medium). Toast the buns and spread with a little
ketchup.
To serve, place some lettuce, cole slaw, a burger
patty and some of the caramelised onions on
each bun base, top with a lid.
As a side we chose the full moon potato
chips.
26
27

Even chickens
love organic
Tiramisù with organic eggs
INGREDIENTS serves 4 people
Switzerland is an "egg nation".
We eat around one billion eggs
per year – and around 30% of
these are organic.
Almost a third – that's a record, because no
other organic product is sold more often. Swiss
organic chickens have a good life: The animals
move around stress-free in the spacious freerange
barns and can live out their typical social
behaviour.
50 g Sugar
2 Fresh organic egg, separated
1 Orange (zest)
250 g Mascarpone
1 pinch Salt
1 tbsp Sugar
250 g Heavy cream
2 dl Organic espresso
5 tbsp Amaretto
2 tbsp Grand Marnier
150 g Ladyfingers
1 EL Organic cocoa powder
PREPARATION
28
Did you
knot that...?
... the egg yolk contains
more protein than
the egg white?
This husbandry method is reflected in the
quality of the eggs: for example, organic eggs
contain more vitamin E and carotenoids than
eggs from barns. Since no paprika is added to
organic chicken feed, organic eggs are often
lighter in colour than conventional eggs. The
colour of the yolk has no influence on taste.
The Schori family runs an
idyllic chicken farm in Muolen
near Romanshorn. There,
2000 hens cluck contentedly
in the coop and on the grass. Nicole and
Hansjörg Schori have been farming organic
for 20 years.
Whip the cream until stiff and chill. Stir the
sugar and egg yolks in a bowl until the mixture
is pale. Stir the grated orange zest into the mixture
with the mascarpone. Beat the egg whites
with the salt until stiff. Add the sugar, continue
beating briefly until the egg whites are glossy,
carefully fold into the mascarpone mixture. Mix
in the whipped cream and chill.
Mix the espresso, Amaretto and Grand Marnier.
Cover the base of a container with a few ladyfingers.
Drizzle half of the liquid over the biscuits,
then spread half of the mascarpone cream on
top, dip the remaining biscuits in the liquid,
place on top, cover with remaining cream, cover
and chill for at least 2 hours.
Dust it with cocoa powder
29

Biodiversity -
more for everyone
No one lives for himself alone.
From cows to humans to tiny insects:
everything is interconnected and
interdependent. Biodiversity – the
variety of habitats, species and
genes - includes the whole world.
Biodiversity is indispensable for our quality of
life. We owe it our food, clean water, clean
air, clothing, energy, building materials and
also habitable space.
A short-cropped English lawn may look wellkept
at first glance, but a garden that is too
perfect is not conducive to nature and especially
biodiversity. In recent times, natural meadows
have become increasingly scarce in our
surroundings. Above all, the intensification of
agriculture and the overbuilding of green
spaces have led to the disappearance of
flower meadows in many places – and with
them numerous animal and plant species that
depend on this habitat.
Organic farming promotes natural life processes
and supports the interactions between ecosystems,
species and genes. By not using
herbicides and pesticides and by maintaining
a diverse cover of arable land, organic farmers
preserve a living and healthy soil. You can
smell and feel this when you hold the soil in
your hands. Healthy soil smells of life. Healthy
soil is a prerequisite for healthy plants,
healthy animals and consequently healthy food.
«Mission B»
The joint project of SRF, RSI, RTR & RTS
aims to sustainably promote biodiversity in
Switzerland. A plan B for nature, because every
second 0.7m2 of green space is built up in
Switzerland...
Create new habitats for native flowers,
insects, birds and lizards! This can be a flower
pot on the balcony, a corner in the garden
that you leave to nature, a flower meadow
instead of an English lawn or native shrubs
instead of thuja and cherry laurel.
Find more here:
www.missionb.ch
30 31

When the bees are
with the flowers...
... it is not just an love affair but a
fruitful creation of new life. Because
bees have a far greater task than
providing us with honey.
Albert Einstein is said to have stated in 1949:
"Once the bee disappears from the earth, man
will have only four years to live. No more bees,
no more pollination, no more plants, no more
animals, no more people."
There are 20,250 bee species worldwide, but
only nine of them are honey bees. In Switzerland,
around 600 species are native, such as the
furry bee, mason bee and various bumblebee
species. As a pollinator insect, the honey bee in
particular makes a huge contribution to our
ecosystem. Bees need the nectar of plants as
food to survive – plants need a pollinator to
spread their pollen and thus reproduce.
Animal welfare for the tiny ones
It is impossible to imagine human life without
the bee, but the population has been in danger
for years due to the widespread death of bee
colonies. So when it comes to animal protection
and welfare, we should not forget the tiny
ones. This also includes butterflies, earthworms
and the often annoying house flies – they all
have their task and right to exist in the cycle of
nature.
The honey bee is the third most important farm animal
after cattle & pigs.
Their pollination services ensure the diversity
of food as we know and appreciate it.
• Out of 100 edible plant species, 71 are
pollinated by bees.
• Fruits and vegetables pollinated by bees
grow larger, have fewer deformities and
simply taste better.
• For stone and pome fruits, insect pollination
increases fruit yield by 40 percent.
• Crops such as cocoa, vanilla and passion fruit
are 100 per cent dependent on pollination
by bees.
Due to the death of honey bees in recent years
(triggered by parasites, stress factors and pesticides)
and a decline in active beekeepers, safe
pollination is increasingly at risk.
Wild bees such as the mason bee have the
greatest potential to support honey bees in
their important work. And it even has the
potential to become your next "pet"...
32
33

Mi casa es su casa:
"Board and lodging" for bees and co.
In order for bees and co. to settle
down and feel at "home", they
need not only a nice place to
stay, but also the right food.
It does not matter whether it's
in the city or the countryside:
The main thing is the food is not
more than 300 metres from the
nesting site. So it's best to plant
the pretty "food" yourself.
With simple nesting aids for the
peaceful wild bees, each of us
can make a small contribution
against bee mortality.
Different species of wild bees have different
requirements for their homes. Even a balcony
offers enough space to provide a selection of
nesting opportunities.
Bellflowers: Not only is there delicious pollen
here, but bees also like to use the large flowers
for a nap.
Deadwood: Pieces of branches and trunks at
least the thickness of the forearm can be
offered standing on the balcony.
Sand: Fill small boxes compact and piled up
with sand containing light clay.
Pith stalks: Pith stalks that have become dry
(e.g. from elderberry) can easily be tied to the
railing or stuck into herb pots. Important:
Attach vertically!
Wild bee hotel:
Caution, many of the
bee hotels available in
supermarkets and co.
are unfortunately completely
unsuitable as
nesting aids. In the
worst case, the hotels
become a death trap for
the bees due to splinters
from unclean holes,
moisture or fungal infestation.
Even pine cones or wood wool are of
no use to wild bees – on the contrary, because
predators can nestle in them. The wild bee
house from Wildbiene+Partner came out best
of nine hotels in the Kassensturz test. You can
even become a wild bee sponsor and receive
a BeeHome with a starting population of
25 mason bee cocoons. If you send in the
BeeHome for wild bee care in the fall, the
animals will be sent to orchards next spring and
help ensure pollination in agriculture. More
information at wildbieneundpartner.ch
Variety: Pollen and nectar are the bees' bread
and butter. But not all flowers offer both. So the
more diverse the range of plants, the better!
Regular meals: By planting both early-, mid-,
and late-blooming species, you ensure that bees
find food throughout the year.
Early bloomers: crocuses and tulips
Mid-flowering species: fruit trees
and blackberries
Late bloomers: ivy and autumn aster
Wildflower mixtures can also be sown in larger tubs
or balcony boxes. A pot of lavender will fit on
any window ledge.
All that is fragrant is not gold.
roses, geraniums, forsythia, cultivated dahlias
or garden chrysanthemums are decorative and
smell good, but provide little or no food for
bees. Look for so-called "unfilled" flowers.
Good bee food (pollen & nectar) can be
found in the flowers of these plants, for
example:
Herbst: wild garlic, sage, thyme, rosemary,
chives, lavender, oregano, basil,
Fruits: raspberry, blueberry, currant, strawberry,
physalis
Vegetables: beans, hot peppers, tomatoes,
cucumber, aubergine, courgette
Ornamental flowers: cornflower, marigold,
nasturtium, verbena, bellflower, daisies,
34 35
sunflowers

A glance into the
Future
Worldwide, only about 1.5% of
agricultural land is cultivated
organically. Quite little, if you
think about it... Certainly, with
conventional farming you have
more yield. But is this also the
better solution for the supply of
all people in the long term?
In Switzerland, organic food has been in vogue
for 20 years, and we are the frontrunners in
terms of annual per capita consumption of
organic food. The steadily growing organic
market in this country turns over an impressive
2.3 billion Swiss francs per year.
On an organic farm, less is produced on a larger
area of land and over a longer period of time. In
addition, production costs more. This contrasts
with conventional farms, which are designed to
be profitable and therefore produce more in
less time and on less land at a lower cost.
The changing climate
The strong connection with nature and the
environment makes the entire agricultural
sector feel the effects of climate change
strongly. Even small changes in climate can have
big effects. A healthy organic soil, which is not
depleted with nitrogen or chemicals, can per se
store more water and absorb it faster. In view of
climate change, as a result of which extreme
weather events, droughts and floods will
increase, this is definitely an advantage for the
future.
The journey is the destination
Organic farming is an important part of the
journey towards sustainable food. To make a
difference in the long run, we unquestionably
need more sustainable measures and everyone's
commitment: If we all buy food regionally and
seasonally, reduce food waste, eat less meat
and generally handle our resources in a more
sustainable way, we will make a big step towards
the right direction.
36 37

All organic
menus from organic
farming are labelled
with this pictogram
BIO
Farmer‘s Day
38 Sources: Bio Suisse, Ueli-Hof, Wildbiene+Partner, FiBL Schweiz, bafu
39

Eldora AG
Gebäude A1 M.O.V.E.
Bändliweg 20
8048 Zürich
Tel. +41 (0) 43 255 20 50
info.zuerich@eldora.ch
de.eldora.ch