With a playful action on Brussels' Martelaarsplein, Boerenbond, Groene Kring and Ferm for agravrouwen the difficulties they encounter. To do so, they use the board game, Game of the Goose. Negotiators for a Flemish government were called upon to find solutions that would ensure Flemish farmers and horticulturists could take steps forward again.
"What a depressing game," sighed one of the participants. Despite the limited number of squares, it was quite difficult to reach the finish line. Jo Brouns (cd&v), Sammy Mahdi (cd&v) and Ben Weyts (N-VA) played the game along with a number of farmers and, like them, faced some setbacks. "Lack of emission-reducing techniques: switch to bio not possible. Go back to the start.' 'Unreliable policy, so children don't take over the farm. Unfortunately, go back to the start.' 'Fertile land sold to nature association: growing not possible. Go back to the start.' And an occasional 'You worked hard. Move forward 3 steps.'
Always back to square one
A playful game that participants took in with good laughter, even though no prizes were awarded. "But for farmers, the obstacles on their journey are not a game but a reality," said Farmers' Union president Lode Ceyssens." Meat farmer and arable farmer Joris Claeys from Lennik (Flemish Brabant) confirmed: "You really don't get ahead sometimes, it's like always going back to square one." He himself already lost part of his acreage to nature objectives. "You hope that it is only a limited part of your acreage because if it is too big, it is over. The location of your farm is very decisive in this respect."
A realistic framework
Joris himself hopes that the negotiators for a next Flemish government will work towards a more realistic nitrogen framework. "The current framework is more of a theoretical model. You get a stamp from the computer, but you don't know how the computer calculates and whether it is correct. Especially individuals who are in the process of renewing or obtaining a permit, are affected."
Priorities
Lode Ceyssens knows all too well the lamentations of Joris and other farmers and horticulturists. He was happy to summarize their priorities for the Flemish negotiators. "Provide a nitrogen emission model that gives farmers and horticulturists the same development opportunities as other sectors. Create a legally secure permit framework with agricultural land protected for food production. And avoid administrative regulatory burdens and calendar farming."
Source: Boerenbond