Agriculture in Flanders

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Greenhouses for grapes in Flemish Brabant
Harvesting sugar beets near Tienen

In agriculture and horticulture in Flanders there is traditionally a close relationship between family and business, but just like in other regions, agriculture today is increasingly characterized by enlargement, modernization and expansion. Intensive sectors make up the greater part of agriculture in Flanders: pig, poultry and dairy farming, fruit and vegetables, ornamental plant breeding. In the French-speaking part of Belgium , Wallonia , the focus is on arable farming and extensive land-based animal husbandry.

Economical meaning

Agriculture is becoming less important for the Flemish economy as a source of employment and added value, but it remains an essential foundation for rural areas. The gross value added of the primary sector (including hunting, forestry and fishing) had a share of 0.8% of the total Flemish value added in 2008.

The final output value of the active selling Flemish agriculture and horticultural sector was estimated in 2010 at 5.1 billion euros . That is an increase of 11% compared to 2009 and the highest number in the last ten years. Of the total production value, 57% was accounted for by animal husbandry, 31% by horticulture and 12% by arable farming. The five most important agricultural products are pork (1.3 billion euros), vegetables (720 million euros), milk products (630 million euros), beef (590 million euros) and ornamental plants (530 million euros).

56,575 people were regularly employed in agriculture and horticulture in 2010. Since 2000 the number of employees has decreased by an average of around 3% per year. Since there are very many irregularly employed people in agriculture, such as seasonal workers and wage workers, this number is converted into full-time workers. The Flemish agricultural and horticultural sector employs 44,058 full-time workers. Of these, 33% work in specialized horticultural farms, 18% in mixed farms and 13% in dairy farms.

Structural aspects

In 2010 there were 28,331 farms in Flanders. In the last ten years the number of farms has decreased by around 30%. This corresponds to a decrease of 3.6% per year. At the same time the order of magnitude increased. Compared to 2000, the average agricultural area has increased by 40% to 21.8 ha. 86% of the farms have specialized in one production direction. Livestock farming is by far the most important specialization at 52%.

The livestock population is also falling. In 2010 there were around 1.3 million cattle, 6.0 million pigs and 29.1 million poultry in Flanders. That is between 15% and 20% less than ten years ago. The agricultural area has remained fairly stable over the past ten years (−3%). 46% of the area in Flanders or 617,000 ha is used for agriculture and horticulture. Pastures, grasslands and forage cultivation take up 60% of the area, which indicates the importance of cattle farming in Flanders.

The organic farming took place in Flanders in 2010 an area of 3,822 hectares, representing 0.6% of total agricultural land. The number of organic farms is 256, i.e. H. a net increase of 14 farms compared to 2009. In recent years, the area and the number of farms have increased steadily, whereby the Strategic Action Plan for Organic Agriculture 2008–2012 also played a role.

Regional distribution

The importance of agriculture in Flanders depends on the region. An agricultural classification map shows the result of a classification of communities with a comparable agricultural activity. The typical regions can be seen here: fruit in the area around Sint- Truiden and vegetables around Sint-Katelijne-Waver , Roeselare and Hoogstraten . Ornamental plants are planted near Ghent . Pig farming is at home in West Flanders , Meetjesland ( Eeklo area ), Waasland ( Sint-Niklaas area ) and De Kempen . Dairy cows are important in the Flemish Ardennes ( Oudenaarde area ) and in Pajottenland ( Dilbeek area ) and in connection with processing in the Kempen. Cattle are mainly found in the Bruges region , the south of West and East Flanders and in connection with arable farming in Flemish Brabant and South Limburg .

The explanation for these differences can be traced back to history as well as to soil physical factors. The processing plants are located in the immediate vicinity of the feed industry and the slaughterhouses. Fruit and vegetable growing is concentrated in the vicinity of the auction markets and the downstream industry. Arable farming takes place mainly on rich soils and livestock farming on poorer soils.

Agriculture and the environment

The eco-efficiency of Flemish agriculture has been increasing since 2000, as the use of chemical pesticides and nutrients, as well as greenhouse gas and particulate matter emissions , are on a downward trend. Only the susceptibility to erosion has increased. The increasing size of the farms as well as the decreasing number of livestock have contributed to a reduction in emissions.

Agriculture used around 48 million m³ of water in 2008. That is a little more than 2007, but less than 2005 and 2006. This water is 40% deep groundwater and a little more than a quarter of rainwater. The total energy consumption of agriculture in 2008 was 26 petajoules (PJ). That is less than 2007. Oil is still the main energy source, but there is a clear switch to natural gas. In addition, energy from combined heat and power is on the rise. Greenhouse cultivation is the largest consumer of water and energy.

In 2008 the total emissions of the greenhouse gases methane (CH 4 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from agriculture amounted to 8,385 kilotons of CO 2 equivalent . This is an 18% reduction compared to 1990. However, agriculture still accounts for 11% of total greenhouse gas emissions, as 56% of N 2 O emissions and 76% of CH 4 emissions do not come from agriculture. The emission of methane is mainly due to the digestive processes of animals in livestock farming.

Agricultural policy

Developments at international level have an impact on agriculture in Flanders and Europe: the growing world population, climate change, the depletion of fossil fuels and non-renewable raw materials, fluctuations in food prices and the handling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The agricultural sector will continue to be confronted with further liberalization of world trade and the globalization of the food chains. The recently introduced Europe 2020 strategy and the future multiannual financial framework create a context in which the common agricultural policy after 2013 should demonstrate its fundamental importance and move.

In 2009, 23,500 farmers in Flanders received almost EUR 269 million in direct aid. That is an average of 11,450 euros per company. Of this, 233 million euros were due to payment claims. The suckler cow premium amounted to 29.1 million euros and the calves slaughter premium amounted to 5.7 million euros. In 2008, direct aid accounted for an average of 5% of income and 25% of farm income in agriculture and horticulture. Dairy farming made up the largest share of direct aids with 27%, followed by beef cattle with 18% and mixed cattle with 11%.

For the rural development program in Flanders, 102 million euros were made available by the authorities in 2009. Investments with a positive contribution to the environment accounted for 26.6 million euros. Most of this went to combined heat and power (CHP) systems, solar cells and solar water heating systems and pigsties with low ammonia emissions. In 2008, rural development support represented 2% of revenues and 9% of farm income. Horticulture only had a share of 21% and was therefore better off than pig breeding and dairy farms.

Social aspects

The average age of farm managers has increased from 46.5 years in 2000 to 50 years in 2010. The majority of farm managers - one fifth - are between 45 and 50 years old. The middle group and the group of 65 year olds and older are increasing. Succession is primarily a problem for smaller businesses.

The level of training among Flemish farm managers has increased steadily over the past few decades. In 1959 95% of the farm managers had only practical experience, in 2010 52%. Small businesses in particular are now run by managers with only practical experience. The larger the company, the more managers with a higher level of education. In 2010, 28% of those starting out on their career had a higher, 68% an intermediate and 4% a low level of education.

Poverty is a fact in rural areas. The number of farmers in need who turn to VZW Boeren op een Kruispunt (farmers at an intersection) has increased annually since it was founded in 2007 until the number fell again in 2010. There are 200 registrations, mainly from West (82) and East Flanders (47).

The system of agribusiness

The agricultural sector is not alone, but is part of a comprehensive system of agribusiness and the entire agri-food industry. In addition to agriculture and horticulture, agricultural supplies, the food industry and trade play an important role. The tendency is that an ever smaller number of companies generate ever more turnover and added value. According to the latest available figures, the overall system of agribusiness in Flanders counts 42,600 businesses subject to VAT and achieves a turnover of 51.7 billion euros and added value of 6.3 billion euros. Sales have increased by a quarter since 2000. The employment is 104,000 workers. The food industry provides more than half of value creation and employment.

All Belgian trade in agricultural products recorded a trade surplus in 2009. The export amounts to 30 billion euros, while the import amounts to 27 billion euros. Both imports and exports show a decrease compared to 2008. The trade surplus also fell in 2009 by 4% to 3.4 billion euros. The share of exports of agricultural products in total Belgian exports was 12%. It is noticeable that the agricultural sector makes up around a quarter of the Belgian trade surplus. The trade surplus is mainly due to animal products such as pork and food products (agricultural materials, fertilizers and pesticides). In the case of horticultural products, the export of frozen vegetables is striking.

history

Exhibits on the history of traditional Flemish agriculture and the special crops that used to be strong there such as flax cultivation, chicory and hops are on display in the Écomusée du Bommelaers-Wall in Ghyvelde .

literature

Web links

Commons : Agriculture in Belgium  - Collection of images, videos and audio files