Facing challenges in agriculture and horticulture

Flemish Minister of Agriculture Hilde Crevits visited Denis Plants in Lochristi on Monday, April 4, 2022, in response to the challenges in agriculture and horticulture. Among other things, Denis Plants grows plants that are used for innovative green living walls. Minister Crevits announced increased support for greenhouse horticulture companies investing in energy-saving measures in existing greenhouses.

The company Sioen produces a new type of water-retaining textile fabric with substrate in which specifically developed plants and flowers from Denis Plants can grow. Such green walls offer the possibility to mitigate extreme heat in urban environments, delay rainwater runoff and create a pleasant green environment. Moreover, this company has recently invested in a completely closed water circulation system where all water is reused on its own farm. In short, an innovative and sustainable family business.

During this visit, Minister Crevits announced her policy on climate-smart cultivation within her competence of economy, innovation and agriculture. Minister Crevits mobilized the expertise of all Flemish Practice Centers around vegetable production to jointly respond to the many challenges posed by climate change. The overall goal of this consortium, led by the Research Center for Ornamental Horticulture (PCS), is to arm agriculture and horticulture in Flanders against the changing climate. Through a smart combination of cultivation choices and cultivation techniques, the companies become more climate-robust and less sensitive to extremes such as drought, heat, frost ... so that the future of agriculture and horticulture remains guaranteed in our rapidly evolving climate. The practical centers demonstrate innovative techniques for climate-robust cultivation. Companies are introduced to a range of low-threshold to high-tech innovations, which can be optimally incorporated into their specific business operations and crops. This project helps Flanders to realize its climate ambitions in agriculture and horticulture.

The new geopolitical crisis caused by the war in Ukraine presents a new and very big challenge to agriculture and horticulture, and to greenhouse farming in particular. The huge increases in energy prices will weigh very heavily on the sector. In addition to energy-saving measures, the sector will have to think out of the box. The Research Center for Ornamental Horticulture together with ILVO wants to develop a reference center for multilayer cultivation. Multilayer cultivation allows much higher production with the same amount of heat, so less natural gas is needed. In addition, the PCS has been focusing for several years on more energy-efficient cultivation in recently renovated research greenhouses, where we exchange knowledge and expertise with the floriculture sector and research partners at home and abroad.

To support greenhouse farms, from April 1 they will be able to count on increased support for investments in existing greenhouses for energy screens that provide cooling in summer and reduce heat loss in winter. These investments in existing greenhouses will be increased from 30% to 40% through the Flemish Agricultural Investment Fund. For young farmers, the increase is from 40% to 50%.

"The rise in energy prices following the war in Ukraine is weighing heavily on the greenhouse sector. Energy-saving measures are becoming increasingly important. From the government we foresee extra incentives for those who invest in climate measures. We also see that more and more companies are consciously choosing to take energy and water-saving initiatives. Last year, via the Flemish Agricultural Investment Fund, no less than 3,000 dossiers were selected in the area of energy savings and water quality and quantity. Denis Plants is a striking example of this. The company reuses all water through a closed water circulation system." Flemish Minister of Agriculture Hilde Crevits.