Agriculture in Flanders

While in agriculture and horticulture in Flanders is traditionally a close bond of family and operation, but, as in other regions, agriculture is now increasingly characterized by enlargement, modernization and expansion. Make intensive sectors in Flanders most of the agriculture of: pork, poultry and dairy farming, fruit and vegetables, ornamental plants. In the French- speaking part of Belgium, Wallonia, the focus is on agriculture and extensive ground-based animal husbandry.

Economic Importance

The agriculture loses for the Flemish economy as a source of employment and value added in importance, but it is still an important basis for the rural areas. Had Gross value added of the primary sector ( including hunting, forestry and fishing) in 2008 accounted for 0.8 % of the total Flemish value.

The final production of the active sales Flemish agricultural and horticultural sector in 2010 was estimated at 5.1 billion euros. This is an increase of 11 % compared to 2009 and the highest number in the last ten years. Of the total production value accounted for 57 % of the livestock, 31% to the horticultural and 12% in agriculture. The five main agricultural products are pork ( 1.3 billion euros ), vegetables ( 720 million euros ), dairy products ( 630 million euros ), beef ( 590 million euros ) and ornamental products ( 530 million euros ).

56 575 persons in 2010 were regularly employed in agriculture and horticulture. Since 2000 the number of employees increases from an average of around 3% per year. Because there are so many irregularly employed persons in agriculture, such as seasonal workers and wage workers, this number is converted to full- time workers. The Flemish agricultural and horticultural sector employed 44 058 full-time employees. 33 % work in specialized nurseries, 18% in mixed farms and 13 % on dairy farms.

Structural aspects

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

Even the livestock is declining. 2010, there were in Flanders around 1.3 million cattle, 6.0 million pigs and 29.1 million poultry animals. These are between 15% and 20 % less than ten years ago. The agricultural area has remained fairly stable over the last decade (-3 %). 46 % of the area in Flanders and 617,000 ha are used by agriculture, and horticulture. Pastures, grassland and fodder crops occupy 60 % of the area, indicating the importance of cattle farming in Flanders.

Organic farming increased in Flanders in 2010 an area of 3,822 ha, equivalent to 0.6 % of total agricultural land. The number of organic farms is 256, ie a net increase of 14 companies compared to 2009. In recent years, the area and the number of farms has steadily increased, whereby the Strategic Action Plan Ecological Agriculture from 2008 to 2012 played a role.

Regional distribution

The importance of agriculture in Flanders is regionally dependent. An agricultural classification map shows the result of classification of municipalities with a comparable agricultural activity. Here the typical regions can be identified: Fruit in the area of Sint- Truiden and vegetables to Sainte-Catherine -Waver, Roeselare and Hoogstraten. Ornamental plants are planted in Ghent. The pig is in West Flanders, in Meetjesland ( area of Eeklo ), in Waasland ( area of ​​Sint -Niklaas ) and in De Kempen at home. Dairy cows ( around Oudenaarde ) and in Pajottenland ( area of Dilbeek ) and in conjunction with the refinement in the Kempen are important in the Flemish Ardennes. Cattle occurs mainly in the region of Bruges, the South of East and West Flanders and in connection with farming in Flemish Brabant and Zuid-Limburg.

The explanation for these differences is due to the history as well as on soil physical factors. The finishing operations have settled in the immediate vicinity of the feed industry and slaughterhouses. The fruit and vegetable production is concentrated in the vicinity of auction markets and the downstream industry. Agriculture takes place primarily on the rich soils and livestock on poorer soils.

Agriculture and Environment

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

The agriculture consumed in 2008 about 48 million cubic meters of water. This is something more than in 2007 but less than 2005 and 2006. During this water is 40% of deep groundwater, and slightly more than a quarter of rainwater. The total energy consumption in agriculture in 2008 amounted to 26 petajoules (PJ). This is less than in 2007. Petroleum is still the most important energy source, but there is a clear conversion to natural gas. In addition, energy is from combined heat and power on the rise. The greenhouse production is the largest consumer of water and energy.

In 2008, the total emission of greenhouse gases was methane (CH4), nitrous oxide ( N2O) and carbon dioxide ( CO2) emissions from agriculture 8,385 kilotons of CO2 equivalent. This is a reduction by 18% compared to 1990. However, 11% of total greenhouse gas emissions are due still on agriculture, because 56% of the N2O emissions and 76% of CH4 emission does not come from agriculture. The emission of methane is mainly due to the digestive processes of the animals in the livestock sector.

Agricultural policy

Have developments at international level have an impact on agriculture in Flanders and Europe: the growing world population, climate change, depletion of fossil fuels and non-renewable raw materials, the price fluctuations of the food and the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The agricultural sector will be faced in the future with further liberalization of world trade and the globalization of food chains. The recent introduction of the Europe 2020 strategy and the future multiannual financial framework to create a context in which the Common Agricultural Policy after 2013 prove their fundamental importance and should move.

In Flanders 2009 23.500 farmers have received nearly 269 million euros in direct aid. These are average of 11,450 € per farm. Of these were 233 million euros for payment claims. The suckler cow made ​​out of 29.1 million euros and the slaughter premium calves 5.7 million euros. The direct aid in 2008 took an average of one a 5% share of the income and 25 % of operating income in agriculture and horticulture. Dairy farming made ​​with 27% for the largest share of direct aid, followed by beef cattle mit18 % and mixed cattle with 11%.

For the program for rural development 2009 102 million euros has been provided by the authorities in Flanders. On investments with a positive contribution to the environment accounted for 26.6 million euros. Walked away the biggest part of combined heat and power plants (CHP ), solar cells and solar water heating systems and pigsties with low ammonia emissions. Support for the development of rural areas made ​​from 2008 2 % of the income and 9 % of operating income. Horticulture had a share of only 21 %, which was better off than the pig and dairy farms.

Social Aspects

The average age of farm managers of farms has increased to 50 years in 2010 from 46.5 years in 2000. The largest share of the manager - one-fifth - is between 45 and 50 years old. The middle group and the group of people aged 65 and older is increasing. The succession is especially a problem for the smaller businesses.

The level of education of the Flemish manager has increased steadily in recent decades. 1959 possessed 95 % of managers have only practical experience, in 2010 52%. In particular, small businesses are now managed by superintendents with only practical experience. The larger the plants, the more managers with a higher education degree. Of the new recruits 2010 28 % had a higher, 68 % higher than an average 4% and a low level of education.

Poverty is a reality in rural areas. The number of farmers in need, the contact VZW Boer op een Kruispunt (farmers at an intersection ) has increased every year since its founding in 2007 until 2010 the number dropped again. There are 200 applications, mostly from Western (82) and East Flanders (47).

The agribusiness system

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, especially the agricultural supply, the food industry and trade play an important role. The tendency is that an ever decreasing number of farms generated more turnover and value added. The overall system of agribusiness in Flanders counts according to the most recent figures 42,600 -taxable companies with a turnover of 51.7 billion euros and an added value of 6.3 billion euros. Revenue increased by a quarter since 2000. The employment of 104,000 workers. The food industry provides more than half of the value added and employment.

The entire Belgian trade in agricultural products in 2009 recorded a trade surplus. The export amounts to 30 billion euros, while imports of 27 billion euros. Both the inputs and the export has a decline as compared to 2008. Also, the trade surplus has fallen by 4% in 2009 to 3.4 billion euros. The share of exports of agricultural products in the total Belgian exports was 12%. It is striking that the agricultural sector constitutes about a quarter of the Belgian trade surplus. The trade surplus is mainly due to animal products, such as pork, and products of the food industry ( agricultural equipment, fertilizers and pesticides). In horticulture products of export of frozen vegetables falls on.