News Politics
This is what the Flemish government wants with its farmers
The Flemish government released the coalition agreement on Tuesday 1 October, with which the book follows 127 days after the elections. The agricultural sector is extensively discussed. Flemish farmers receive appreciation and more space to do business, although uncertainty can also be detected.
Interest representative of the Farmers' Union responded Monday September 30 already on the news. They are positive, because the government wants to better protect the countryside in the plan. Municipalities are also largely free to decide on this themselves (for example, whether they allow wind turbines). At the same time, it says it wants to create 20.000 hectares of extra nature and 10.000 hectares of extra forest. The Boerenbond is concerned about this. It has not yet been announced where this will happen.
Risk management for Flemish farmer
News site Landbouwleven has the full text from the coalition agreement published† This shows, among other things, that there is more room for entrepreneurship and risk management. For example, Belgium will also receive broad weather insurance, although this was already decided earlier. Income support, which must be maintained under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), will be phased out until 2027 at the latest. A Flemish strategic plan will also be included in the new CAP. At the same time as the new CAP, the Flemish Agricultural Investment Fund (VLIF) is also being restructured.
The plans also pay attention to circular agriculture: reuse of residual flows, make better use of nutrients and describe the protein cycle. It is striking that the plan calls for a better separation between the farmer and his company in financial terms. This is how new company forms are created. Pilots are being used to try to cover market risks and this should also give entrepreneurs more feeling for risk management. The Belgian potato sector was supposed to join forces last autumn, but the establishment of an organization during Interpom was canceled at the last minute.
Flemish lease file
The lease file is also an issue with our southern neighbours. There will therefore also be new lease contracts with a term of 9 years, or a multiple of that number. This includes a better balance between tenant and lessor. Tenants have more freedom when it comes to their choice of construction plan and cultivation technique.
A new department should oversee the vision. That is why Agriculture and Fisheries are being merged with the Economy, Science, Innovation, Work and Social Economy departments. The Agriculture & Fisheries Department is being transformed into the Agriculture & Sea Fisheries Agency.
Anti-dumping of French fries
There is more political news to report on Tuesday, October 1. So carded the Belgian MEP Geert Bourgeois to European Commissioner Phil Hogan the anti-dumping measures that South American countries levy on Belgian and European chips. Hogan was quick to act as the charges are seen as false by Europe.
Niels van der Boom
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