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Prospects and challenges for agricultural diversification in a peri-urban region (Flanders – Belgium) August 2007 Cazaux G., Carels K., Van Gijseghem D. VLAAMSE OVERHEID Beleidsdomein Landbouw en Visserij Afdeling Monitoring en Studie (AMS) Koning Albert II laan 35, bus 40 1030 Brussel 1 Prospects and challenges for agricultural diversification in a peri-urban region (Flanders – Belgium). Cazaux G., Carels K., Van Gijseghem D. (AMS) Download PDF-document: Paper, 30 blz The following report is instigated by a call for case material from the Joint Working Party on Agriculture and the Environment, from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2007) in response to COM/TAD/CA/ENV/EPOC(2007)22. The scope fits into the 2007-2008 Work Programme of the Committee for Agricultural Relating to the Impacts of Agricultural Policies on Rural Community Well-Being. One of the goals put forward is to present a report on the effects of agricultural policies on sustainable land use management and the provision of rural amenities in rural areas. Chapter 2 presents some key characteristics of the rural area and agricultural activity in Flanders. The following chapters present a general outline of Flemish agricultural policy and land use planning policy, specifically relevant to the issues raised in this overview. Lastly, some specific case material pertaining to diversification activities on farms in Flanders (Belgium) is presented. A fourfold set of conclusions sums up some considerations on a diversified agriculture in the rural urban fringe. Beschikbaarheid: downloadbaar in PDF-formaat Bestellingen: Afdeling Monitoring en Studie Koning Albert II laan 35, bus 40 - 1030 Brussel Tel: 02/552.78.24- Fax: 02/552.78.21 e-mail: [email protected] Vermenigvuldiging of overname van gegevens zijn toegestaan mits expliciete bronvermelding: Cazaux G., Carels K. & Van Gijseghem D. (2007) Prospects and challenges for agricultural diversification in a peri-urban region (Flanders – Belgium), Beleidsdomein Landbouw en Visserij, Afdeling Monitoring en Studie, Brussel. © Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap 2 1. Introduction The following report is instigated by a call for case material from the Joint Working Party on Agriculture and the Environment, from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2007) in response to COM/TAD/CA/ENV/EPOC(2007)22. The scope fits into the 2007-2008 Work Programme of the Committee for Agriculture Relating to the Impacts of Agricultural Policies on Rural Community Well-Being. One of the goals put forward is to present a report on the effects of agricultural policies on sustainable land use management and the provision of rural amenities in rural areas (see chapter 3.2.3, section 1.3): “The main objectives of the study would be to enhance understanding and analysis of the implications of agricultural policies and policy reform for land management and rural amenity provision, taking into account the different structures of ownership, property rights, and the diversity of rural areas, particularly the rural-urban fringe. It would also consider how other policies, including those related to land use, zoning and fiscal measures, might be used to encourage the sustainable provision of land-based environmental goods and services on economically viable farms in rural areas.” (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2007, 5) In undertaking this work, the Secretariat will also be seeking input and assistance from countries particularly in terms of provision of relevant material, including specific case material that Delegations may be able to provide or draw to the attention of the Secretariat. In this respect, we present case material pertaining to diversification activities among farmers in Flanders (one of the three regions in Belgium), and policy measures possibly influencing its development. Given the peculiar situation of Flanders, this relates specifically to land management in the rural urban fringe, one of the categories in the illustrative matrix of policy measures and farmland management practices (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2007, 12). Chapter 2 presents some key characteristics of the rural area and agricultural activity in Flanders. The following chapter presents a general outline of Flemish agricultural policy, specifically relevant to the issues raised in this overview. The fourth chapter focuses on land use planning policy. In chapter 5, some specific case material pertaining to diversification activities on farms in Flanders is presented. A fourfold set of conclusions sums up some considerations on a diversified agriculture in the rural urban fringe. 2. The rural area and agriculture in the Flemish region This section presents some key characteristics of the Flemish rural area and the agricultural sector in Flanders. In doing so, we point to the specificity of the Flemish situation with respect to the rural urban fringe and the situation of the agricultural sector in Flanders. 3 2.1. General overview The Flemish region is one of the three regions of Belgium, north of to the Walloon region and the Brussels Capital Region1. Flanders is situated at the heart of Europe, with boundaries with the Netherlands, France and the other two Belgian regions. The Flemish region is close to other large metropolitan regions of North West Europe. Table 1 and Table 2 show some distinguishing features of the Belgian regions. The surface of the Flemish region (see Table 1) covers nearly half of the Belgian territory (13.522 km2 out of a total of 30.528 km2). The Flemish population noticeably outnumbers its Walloon counterpart and the population density in Flanders is more than double the Walloon’s region population density (in 2005 respectively 446/km2 and 201/km2). As such, Flanders has one of the highest population density levels in Europe. The area with the highest population density is mainly situated in the central part of Flanders enclosed by the cities of Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels (see Figure 1). Table 1: Surface area Belgium and its regions (km2 and percentage) (FOD Economie, 2007a). km²% Flemish Region 13.522 44,29 Walloon Region 16.844 55,18 Brussels Capital 162 0,53 region TOTAL Belgium 30.528 100 Table 2: Population density Belgium and its regions (inhabitants/km2) (FOD Economie, 2007b). 1/1/2004 1/1/2005 Flemish Region 444,9 446,9 Walloon Region 200,7 201,6 Brussels Capital 6.195,80 6.238,30 Region TOTAL Belgium 340,6 342,2 2.2. The rural area According to the OECD criterion, a community is defined as rural if its population density is below 150 inhabitants per square kilometre. When geographically applying this population density threshold to the Belgian situation, it appears that only a small fraction of the Flemish area fits the OECD’s definition of rural area. In Figure 1, population density is shown on the level of the community2. The blank areas in Figure 1 represent those with a population density of less than 150 inhabitants per square kilometre. The darker the area, the higher the population density. 1 The three Belgian regions are situated on the NUTS 1 level (NUTS = Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics). 2 There are 589 communities in Belgium. This is the LAU 2 level (Local Administrative Units). 4 Figure 1: Population density according to the proposed delineation criteria – Belgium (Lenders et al., 2006). This definition of ‘rural’ would lead to determine that only a small fraction of Flanders, being 10%, matches this definition. This categorization does not correspond with common delineations of the Flemish countryside (Lenders et al., 2006). Research from the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries research and the Department for Policy Analysis set out to adjust the OECD’s arbitrary demarcation criterion to Flemish circumstances. The researchers transformed different existing delineations (e.g. urban districts, spatial complexes, open space, the environs or outskirts according to the Spatial Structure Plan for Flanders, etc) to a 0-100 index and assembled them in a rurality index. The misallocation analysis on this index revealed an optimal threshold for population density of 600 inhabitants per square kilometre for Flanders3. This approach consequently leads to different thresholds for different countries. Future research is set out to transcend the dichotomised division between rural and urban and determine three or more divisions based on the 0-100 scaled rurality index (Lenders et al., 2006). The territorial classification of municipalities according to the Spatial Structure Plan Flanders and the Strategic Plan Spatial Economy categorizes a large part of the Flemish region as regional urban, suburban provincial area and transitional area (see Figure 2). 3 The optimal population density threshold for the Walloon region was set at 300 inhabitants per km2. This discrepancy between the Flemish and the Walloon region was largely due to the different perceptions of the experts in the research (Lenders et al., 2006). 5 Figure 2: Territorial classification of the municipalities according to the classification of the Spatial Structure Plan Flanders and the Strategic Plan Spatial Economy (number of communities) (Departement Algemene Zaken en Financiën, 2005; Studiedienst van de Vlaamse Regering, 2006). 2.3. Agriculture in rural and non-rural areas As Figure 3 shows, more than half of the Flemish farms are located in areas which are not denoted as countryside. As such, many farms are found in the transitional area, the Metropolitan Brussels area, the structure supporting cities and the regional urban fringe. Figure 3: Location of farms in Flanders (Vakgroep Landbouweconomie, Universiteit Gent & IDEA Consult, 2007). Location of farms in Flanders centre cities metropolitan fringe metropoles suburban provincial area transitional area countryside regional urban fringe Metropolitan Brussels area Structure supporting cities 6 It is noteworthy to add that in Flanders, as in many other parts of Europe, the rural area is characterised by the farmed landscape. In Flanders, there are hardly any undeveloped areas left. The agricultural sector occupies more than half of the Flemish surface area.