1. Flemish Land Agency: “Joint investments in open space”
Sagiter 12-14/11
Florac

2. 1. Situating Belgium – Flanders
2. Characteristics of Flanders & of Flemish Agriculture
3. Biggest challenges
4. VLM

3. 1. Situation Belgium Flanders

5. Belgium = federal state with 3 communities, 3 regions, 4 linguistic areas, 6 parliaments & 6 governments …
The Federal government is competent for a.o. public health (food security), animal welfare, and product policy
The three communities (Flemish, French & German-speaking) are competent for culture, education, certain aspects of healthcare, language matters and co-operation between Regions and Communities
The three regions (Flemish, Walloon & Brussels Capital Region) have competences on economic policies, employment, energy matters, transport, agriculture, local authorities, environment, territorial planning and housing
6 Parliaments & 6 Governments: merging of Flemish Community with Flemish Region led to the existence of only one Flemish Parliament and one Flemish Government with competence over community as well as over regional matters.

6. Key characteristics of Flanders
Highly urbanized region with high population density
Highly scattered built-on surface
Central position in Western Europe
=> Text book example of spatial metropolitan and peri-urban development in Western Europe

7. Highly urbanized region with high population density
Flanders: km² (9.230 km² rural – km² forest)
inhabitants (2008)
=> Average of 455 inhabitants/km²
in comparison:
Belgium: 349 inhabitants/km²
Poland: 123 inhabitants/km²
EU - 27: 116 inhabitants/km²

8. Highly scattered built-on surface
Less than ¼ of Flemish land (24%) has been built on
=> a vast amount of open spaces remains => highly scattered built-on surface
agriculture = principal user of open space => important role in preserving and managing open spaces
Central position in Western Europe
Important junction of transport axis, dense network of roads

9. 2. Characteristics of Flanders & of Flemish Agriculture

10. Characteristics of Flemish Agriculture
ha cultivated area
46% of Flanders’ area
ha pastures, meadows & fodder crops (maize)
ha arable farming:
65% cereals, 19% potatoes, 11% sugar beets
ha horticulture (but almost 1/3 of turnover)
56% vegetables; 32% fruit

11. Further characteristics of Flemish agriculture
family based production
tasty quality products
capital-intensive, productive, highly specialised
integrated production
traceability and labelling
private stakeholders/cooperatives
competitive products
countryside highly populated
455 hab./km²
260 hab./km² in the countryside
declining number of farms
1100 farms/year
farms (62% professionals)
increasing number of hectares/farm
20 ha (+ 37 % in period )
Farm size & farm number

12. 3. Biggest challenges

13. - growth in global production - enlargement of the European Union
- liberalisation of trade
- changing consumer attitudes /demands
- environmental measures
- introduction new technology
availability-affordability-applicability
- employment
availability, social security, fiscality
- harmonisation residue levels / pesticide use
- environmental and operational permits
- spatial planning
- ageing farmers
Average age evolution
The bottommost curve represents the average age of farmers in Flanders from 1990 till 2004
1990 : average age : app 47
1997 : average age : app 46
2006 : average age : between 48 & 49

14. 4. VLM History Flemish Land Agency (21/12/1988)
Land Consolidation (1956)
Land Development (1988)
The Manure Bank (1991)
GIS Support Centre (1995)
Land Development for Nature (1998)
Agri Environmental agreements (1998)
Rural Development (1999)
Land Bank (2002)

15. Minister of Environment Flemish Land Agency (VLM)
Introduction
Minister of Environment
Administration Environment, Nature, Land use and Water
Flemish government institutions
Minister of Rural Development
OVAM
VMM …
Flemish Land Agency (VLM)
Flemish Government

16. Rural Development and Manure Policy
Introduction
Flemish Land Agency: “Joint investment in open space”
Central Office
Regional Departments
General
Administration
Informatica
& GIS VLM
Departments
Project execution
Rural Development and Manure Policy
(EU – Flanders)
Manure bank
Region West
Province West-
and East Flanders
Regio East
Province
Flemish-Brabant
Antwerp, Limburg
Departments

17. Project execution: Land development
Spatial planning versus Land development in Flanders
Management
To ensure a sustainable conservation of the realisation of measures
Land development
Create a suitable physical area in accordance with the functions that are indicated
Spatial planning
Indication of activities in areas under
preconditions

18. Think bigger if possible

19. Instruments for Land Development
Main goal of the 4 instruments:
Land Development: The coordination of land development in general and specific land development projects as an implementation of spatial planning
Land Consolidation: Land Consolidation projects improve the physical structure of agricultural landscapes by rearranging agricultural plots while taking into account the opportunities for other functions present in the area
Land Development for Nature: Land Development for Nature projects are directed towards an optimal development of an area by conservation, restoration, management and development of nature in FEN, SPA and green areas that are indicated by spatial planning
Land Bank: Making acquisition, management and exchange of real estate possible trough negotiation with the owners based on a contract between VLM and partner(s)

20. How we work on integrated land development
Develop integral regional vision
Draw plans (with people, in a formal Counseling Group)
Anchor agreements between interested parties
Support realization -with grants-
Experience and enjoy growing awareness among people

21. Rural Development, Manure policy and Advicing
1. Preparing and advising RD policy
IPO: Consultation between different government levels about RD policy issues
Themes of discussion:
Tourist accommodation on the farm
farm shops
experiential value of the rural areas
reusing empty farms
silence and tranquility as a collective value of the rural areas
improving the access to local facilities
organization of the maintenance of landscape elements and recreational infrastructure …
Flemish Rural Policy Plan

22. Rural Development 2. Implementing RD policy
Rural development program for Flanders (PDPO II )
Agri-environmental agreements (axis 2)
Contracts between VLM and the farmer in which the farmer promises to do certain efforts for the nature in exchange for an annual fee. .e. by mowing with respect for pasture birds, adaptation of cattle density, avoidance of herbicides, erosion, …
Provincial RD projects (axis 3)
Leader groups (axis 4)
Flemish initiatives on RD
Area specific RD projects
VLM as managing agency

23. Rural Development 3. International cooperation
Participating in European projects
Developing international networks
Search for (co-)financing possibilities
Exchange of knowledge

24. Manure policy
Enforcing the correct implementation of the nitrate directive Manure bank
Reducing manure surpluses
Stimulating manure processing
In a later stage monitoring and sanctioning

25. Advisors at VLM in Rural Development Department
Advisors on agri-environmental measures
A business-oriented approach through farm planners
Partnership between farmers and farm planners
Agricultural nature conservation erosion control, hamster protection, construction and maintenance of ponds, meadow bird management, …
Advisors towards better Soil quality
Knowledge centre for sustainable manuring with a guidance plan for farmers