Demir wants space for small family farms

VAccording to the minister, this type of business is the farm of the future: family-run, sustainable, small-scale and based on an incredibly fair and transparent system: the short chain.

Minister Demir entered the Tievishoeve farmyard with her 3-year-old daughter, Rozanne. Zuhal has known this business for some time as she used to discover raw milk here with her father.

The minister thought it was important to now show his daughter where milk and meat come from and consciously chose Tievishoeve for this. Dairy products, meat, eggs, vegetables and derived / processed products are produced here organically. The delicacies are sold in an ice cream parlor, but also in a bistro and an oversized farm store.

Under pressure

“Flanders is not big and in my opinion we have to rely on the short chain. We must produce food for ourselves and not become industrial, ”explained the Minister of the Environment her vision of agriculture. She is convinced that the added value of large-scale production does not benefit the farmer himself.

For this reason, according to the minister, the infinite growth of the herd cannot continue. “It makes sense then that you run into a nitrogen problem. The number of permit applications for “industrial” mega stables has quadrupled over the past 5 years. This puts small family businesses under pressure. This is no longer possible. “

Working on policy frameworks

Minister Demir wants to boost the short chain through policy frameworks she is currently working on. He wants to make room in Flanders for small family businesses. Regarding the practical implementation of the short chain, the Minister wishes to remove the legal obstacles now facing farmers and horticulturalists. It also works on the “place” of farmers in national landscape parks and fully stimulates the transition to sustainable agriculture.

Fair and transparent

An important message that Minister Demir conveyed to us is the value she attaches to the short chain system: “it is fair and transparent: the farmer has better control over prices, production method and supply. “.

She also adds that it is good for the consumer to know what is on their plate and to know the history of the producer directly through a visit to the farm and contact with the short chain.

Short Chain Week runs from May 15 to 23, more info on the website www.weekvandekorteketen.be.

Tim decoster