Growing protest against new Clarebout factory

The new factory that potato processor Clarebout wants to build is causing quite a few protests. The factory, which is to be built in the south of Belgium, is the umpteenth factory that has to deal with this kind of setback.

Clarebout announced at the beginning of 2019 a new factory want to build in Frameries. The potato processor wants to start building this factory at the end of the year. Initially, the construction of the factory was seen as positive, as it would create 300 to 500 jobs.

Organized action
However, local residents have now started to resist construction, reports the Flemish business newspaper From Tijd† They fear the stench of frying fat and rotten potatoes. In addition, the local residents do not want to be inconvenienced by truck traffic and they are also against the environmental impact of factory waste. 

However, the protest has gone so far that politicians and policymakers have already been threatened. They are held responsible for the fact that permission has been granted to Clarebout. Local politicians are now investigating whether there are still alternative locations for the factory, although Clarebout has already indicated that this is not an option.

Headwind
The protest against Clarebout's new factory is not the first of its kind. For example, it appeared earlier that the growth plans of FarmFrites to be sensitive† There is also opposition to a new Agristo factory in West Flanders a lot of resistance.

Anne-Jan Doorn

Anne Jan Doorn is an arable expert at Boerenbusiness. He writes about the various arable farming markets and also focuses on the land and energy market.

aj.doorn@boerenbusiness. Nl

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