Flanders Leader+ Projects Survey
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V L A A N D E R E N Flanders Leader+ Projects Survey MEETJESLAND [Improving the quality of life] Co-ordinator : Katrien De Merlier Provincie oost-Vlaanderen Afdeling Land- en tuinbouw Gouvernementstraat 1 9000 Gent Tel: #32 9 267 86 73 Fax: #32 9 267 86 97 GSM: #32 484 18 74 09 [email protected] www.meetjesland.be/leader Brussels The projects were classified under the following themes: Future developments in agriculture 1. Future developments in and potential of agriculture and horticulture in Meetjesland 2. Sustainable agricultural management in Meetjesland 3. Poor-in-emission and pro-animal production of quality dairy 4. Trends in agriculture and horticulture: Meetjesland serves as a pioneer 5. Strong with Milk: a common process for several regions Promoting broadening in agriculture and co-operation in agriculture and food industry 6. Strengthening the innovation capacity of the agricultural business sector in Meetjesland on the basis of local factor benefits 7. Farm and regional products of Meetjesland 8. Quality chips from Meetjesland 9. Sheep on the ‘Meetjes’ 10. Development of mycotoxine diagnostics Training and conscious-raising of regional identity 11. Creative administration: learning about the own region for administrators in a rural area 12. Mondina 13. Meetjesland in a box 14. Meetjesland explained to children: About cabbage heads and landships 15. Giving youngsters opportunities 1 V L A A N D E R E N V L A A N D E R E N Flanders Leader+ Projects Survey 16. Wilhelmus+ 17. Regional Branding: making the region a brand Valorization of regional and cultural identity: Strengthening village centres 18. Historico-cultural activities in Middelburg 19. Naughty Sente 20. Shrimp make fishing village die hard Valorization of regional and cultural identity: giving impulses to (more and better) regional fauna and flora 21. Art and poetry route of Meetjesland 22. Focus on flora and fauna of Meetjesland: setting a good example 23. Faunatural farm yards 24. Characterization and use of autochtonous gene sources in Meetjesland Future Developments in Agriculture 1. Future Developments in and Potential of Agriculture and Horticulture in Meetjesland In September 2004 a study about the future potential of agriculture and horticulture in Meetjesland was completed. The study should allow local authorities to better estimate the agricultural value of Meetjesland and to manage it in a supportive and facilitating way. The bottlenecks and strengths of the several subregions of Meetjesland are described which results in the formulation of a number of scenarios for the future and strategies. The study also spends some special attention to listing the broadening activities of the farmers. The authorities are pointed out to the fact that they are supposed to inform farmers about the existing possibilities and to act facilitating towards those who consciously decide to take steps towards broadened agriculture. The study concludes with a directive package of measures and recommendations for the authorities of the Meetjesland region as well as for the individual municipalities. The results of this study were announced through different channels and have been incorporated in the training session ‘Creative Management’, module Agriculture. Contact : Professors Jacques Viaene and Xavier Gellynck Vakgroep Landbouweconomie Universiteit Gent Coupure links 653 B-9000 Gent Tel. #32 9 264 59 44 [email protected] , [email protected] 2. Sustainable Agricultural Management in Meetjesland In order to further support the future opportunities of agriculture, an approved method of sustainable farming will be offered to farms in Meetjesland. Based on a scientific approach a number of pilot projects will be set up in which farmers and experts will be involved as much as possible. Furthermore a communication plan will be developed towards farmers, horticulturists, environmental organizations, schools, the population etc. 2 V L A A N D E R E N V L A A N D E R E N Flanders Leader+ Projects Survey The method used is called ‘economical farming’ (agricultural management with a lower input and cost-saving and moreover economically profitable) and the sustainability is measured with the so-called ‘duurzaamheidsster’ (‘sustainability star’). This method allows an approach specific to the farm allowing the participating farmers to define their own goals and opportunities. Contact : Didier Huygens Provinciale Landbouwkamer voor Oost-Vlaanderen Gouvernementstraat & B-9000 Gent Tel. #32 9 267 86 80 [email protected] 3. Low-emission and Pro-animal Production of Quality Dairy This project introduces sustainable agriculture to dairy farms by focusing on rations and animal welfare with a higher milk quality as a result. This projects aims at working out how dairy farms in Meetjesland can produce more in a more sustainable way towards the use of nutrients, animal welfare and the quality of the milk. The knowledge gathered from research on this matter will be applied to pilot farms and the effects of it on the cultivation plan, the rotation of crops and the fertilization plan will be worked out. The economical durability will be considered as well. The experience acquired at these demo farms can move the interested dairy farmers to adjust their rations. Contact : Filippe Van de Craen Vlaams Agrarisch Centrum Ambachtsweg 20 B-9820 Merelbeke Tel.: #32 9 252 59 19 [email protected] 4. Trends in Agriculture and Horticulture: Meetjesland Serves as a Pioneer The agriculturists and horticulturists of Meetjesland will be intensively guided in their role as pioneers in a number of innovative developments in the sector. Some new, alternative vegetable varieties will be cultivated on the fields of interested horticulturists and on a trial field. Crop guidance as well as marketing of the specialties are part of the project. Tree nurseries will be offered new and hard-to-grow varieties as well. The experience and know- how of the pilot farms and the farmers involved will be shared with other horticulturists who show interest. Potato farmers and contractors are further guided in the introduction of integral chain control and quality control systems on their farms. Contact : Nico Vergote Provinciaal Proefcentrum voor de Groenteteelt Oost-Vlaanderen vzw Interprovinciaal Proefcentrum voor de Aardappelteelt vzw Karreweg 6 B-9770 Kruishoutem Tel.: #32 9 381 86 81 [email protected] 3 V L A A N D E R E N V L A A N D E R E N Flanders Leader+ Projects Survey 5. Sustainable Agriculture: a Common Process for Several Regions [interterritorial co-operative project] From 2006 till half 2008 Meetjesland and Brugse Ommeland buckle down to sustainable agriculture. The project has got 2 levels: sustainable agriculture at farm level (pilot farms) and sustainable agriculture at regional level, which means that the trumps of working within a region are played and that the applicability of sustainable agriculture is geared for the region. The product of this project is to introduce the ‘duurzaamheidsster’ (‘sustainability star’) (assessment system of Stedula) to dairy farms. It is important for individual farmers to make progress on an economical, ecological and social level. The process is to make farmers and others aware of the possibilities of sustainable farming in consultation with and involvement of the agricultural and other sectors in the region. Contact : Diane Schoonhoven p/a Streekplatform+ Meetjesland Oostveldstraat 1 9900 Eeklo Tel: 09 376 97 38 GSM: 0473 373455 [email protected] Promoting Broadening in Agriculture and Co-operation in Agriculture and Food Industry 6. Strengthening the Innovation Capacity of the Agricultural Business Sector in Meetjesland on the Basis of Local Factor Benefits Regional factors play an important role in innovation. They indicate the mutual relation between the farm and its environment. 164 enterprises in food industry in Meetjesland were asked how they experience these regional factors in Meetjesland. One of the conclusions of this poll is that the largest innovators prove to be those who participate in networks and maintain a strong interaction with other enterprises and institutes. The actions that result from this, aim at strengthening regional factors for food industry in Meetjesland and strengthening relations between food industry, agricultural and other suppliers and institutions. This will happen by means of meetings on specific topics in order to come to a goal-oriented exchange of information between enterprises and institutions, meetings between enterprises, a food meeting during which the vertical links in agricultural business have the opportunity to get to know each other. Besides networking and sharing of know-how, the project aims at entering into permanent consultation with the parties concerned and the administration. All this in favour of further development of the sector, in which industrial estates, mobility and the foundation of a research estate are primary themes. Contact: Professors Jacques Viaene and Xavier Gellynck Vakgroep Landbouweconomie Universiteit Gent Coupure links 653 B-9000 Gent Tel. #32 9 264 59 44 [email protected] , [email protected] 4 V L A A N D E R E N V L A A N D E R E N Flanders Leader+ Projects Survey 7. Farm and Regional Products of Meetjesland The supply of farm and regional products will be stimulated by effective promotion and setting up well-structured sales channels. Important for the continued existence of a co- operative partnership after the Leader+ project depends entirely on the support given to this structure by sufficient producers. Producers will be given the opportunity to deliver their products in a distribution centre. The possibility of supplying farm and regional products to retail shops will be considered. The basis of the promotion is the creation of a ‘Meetjesland’ label of origin which represents the identity and origin of the product. In a first phase gift packages wil be put together to the occasion of several events or on demand. In 2004 a number of cooking classes were organized in which regional chefs worked with regional products.