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Development strategies for peri-urban farming BVLE symposium. Valerie Vandermeulen Promotor: Prof. G. Van Huylenbroeck. Urbanization in Belgium. Urban and Peri-urban regions The fringe of Brussels Big cities in West-Flanders Rural regions Parts of West-Flanders
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Development strategies for peri-urban farmingBVLE symposium Valerie Vandermeulen Promotor: Prof. G. Van Huylenbroeck
Urbanization in Belgium • Urban and Peri-urban regions • The fringe of Brussels • Big cities in West-Flanders • Rural regions • Parts of West-Flanders • More distant fringe of Brussels • Difference? Based on population pressure and commuting figures
Advantages and Disadvantages of urbanization • examples of differences • Policy (some results) • Land use (some results) • Transportation (yet to be researched) • ... • Changing farm strategy
Policy FLANDERS • Emphasis on environmental issues • Promotion of organic farming WALLOON REGION • Emphasis on agricultural productivity • Attention to social context
Policy is also researched at a local level The analysis shows that local policies can make a difference in the uptake of multifunctionality and diversification. The local policy is highly underestimated as institutional level.
Land Use Rural -> peri-urban -> urban • Less land available • Less profitable traditional farming
Changing farm strategy • New activities • E.g. Active diversification, home selling, new products • Active diversification is a strategy used by peri-urban farmers Note: rural and peri-urban areas should be refined
Valorize nature and landscape effects of farming • E.g. environmental programs, hedges, tree rows => Environmental programs are strategies used by non peri-urban farmers!
Strong networks • E.g. for locally produced goods • Yet to be researched • Other possible strategies ?
Progress • Early stage literature review • Collection of data: • On multifunctional agriculture (finished) • On networking (going on) • … • Developing strategies • Feasibility of development suggestions