The King Baudouin Foundation announced on Tuesday that it is awarding €765,225 to 16 projects dedicated to agroecology, highlighting agriculture’s crucial role in Belgium’s sustainable transition, as 45% of the nation’s land is used for farming.
Agroecology is a sustainable farming approach focusing on healthy soils, increased biodiversity, fair trade, and local community engagement. The Foundation stresses that each region, business, and community must find its own path in this transition, particularly given the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, economic uncertainty, and the widening gap between farmers and the public.
The Foundation indicates that agroecology can lead to significant savings for farmers by encouraging collaboration among them and with other stakeholders, such as local food processors and institutional buyers. These partnerships enhance farmers’ resilience, enable shared investments, broaden offerings, and better meet buyers’ needs.
This approach aligns with the European Green Deal, aiming for a climate-neutral European Union by 2050.
To support this transition, the King Baudouin Foundation, along with the Reverso Fund and the Beckers-Diels Fund it manages, has selected ten projects in Wallonia and six in Flanders.
In Chaudfontaine, for example, the Foundation supports “Vent de Terre,” a local grocery developing a community-based vegetable growing initiative that supplies organic produce to local institutions. In Gembloux, a project featuring four farmers providing artisanal bakers with flour from ancient grains is highlighted.
Details of all supported projects can be found on the King Baudouin Foundation’s website.
