How the Belgian agro-food chain assures food security, sustainability and quality The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) Brussels. Luc Vanoirbeek (Belgian Farmers Union) Wednesday 14 October 2015
BELGIAN AGRICULTURE A versatile sector • A strong presence of different sectors ü Wide range of products available • Specialized rather small scale farmers ü Professionalism and excellence. ü Individual entrepreneurship. ü Small is beautiful. • Family farm businesses ü Economy with a face
BELGIAN AGRICULTURE Facts & figures • 1.358 mio ha of farm land • 42 870 holdings ü 31.7 ha/holding • 80 950 people employed ü 61 550 AWU’s • 8.450 bio euro turnover ü 42,9 % crops ü 57,1 % animal production • 2.288 bio euro added value
BELGIAN FOOD INDUSTRY A dynamic & flexible sector thanks to its SME’s Breakdown of companies by size 100%
Only 61 of the
90%
4.638 food
70%
80%
60%
companies employ > 250 people (1,3%)
50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Employers Food industry
< 5 employees 10 - 19 employees 50 - 99 employees
5 - 9 employees 20 - 49 employees 100 - 249 employees
BELGIAN AGRICULTURE With a strong export vocation Self sufficiency ratio Fresh milk
145
Apples
281
Pears
859
Lettuce
177
Tomatoes
316
Beef/veal
140
Pigmeat
237
Poultry
147
Strawberry
259
• Exports worth 39.4 bio euro ü 16 % outside EU-28 and growing ü Ranging from
ü Inputs: machinery, fertilizers, plant
protection products seeds ü Over agricultural high quality commodities ü To food and drinks in a wide variety
BELGIAN AGRICULTURE Safe, qualitative and sustainable products • Assured safety and quality ü Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain ü Specifications ü Traceability from farm to fork • Strengthened by proximity of consumer ü Farming in an urbanized region • Demanding on all accounts of sustainability ü Biodiversity, environment, resource efficiency, emission reductions, animal welfare,…
BELGIAN AGRICULTURE Lessons learned. • Key issues for Belgian farmers: ü Quality ü Safety ü Sustainability ü Marketdriven
BELGIAN FOOD INDUSTRY A growing industry and one of the most important industries in Belgium
2013
Jobs (FTE)
Business es
Turnover
Added value
Export
Food industry
73,200 +0.5%
4,600 -2.7%
€ 48.2 bn +1.7%
€ 6,8 bn +1.7%
€ 22,1 bn +2.2%
422,400 -2.9%
16,700 -3%
€ 281.3 bn -3.3%
€ 42.8 bn -1.8%
-
17.3%
27,8%
17.1%
15.8 %
-
1st
1st
1st
1st
3rd
Total industry % share of the food industry Food industry ranking
THE BELGIAN FOOD SECTOR Delivering high quality and safe products respecting the environment throughout the food chain
BELGIAN FOOD INDUSTRY A solid & export-oriented industry Evolution and geographical distribution exports
Diverse 1,8% 1,9%
€ 5.000
1,3% 5,7%
13,7%
Bn. Euro
3,3%
€ 4.000
Exported products
3,5%
3,6%
12,3%
7,0%
€ 3.000
€ 2.000
€ 1.000 9,7%
8,3%
€0 Netherlands
9,7%
8,8%
France
Germany
United-‐Kingdom
2003
Italy
Rest EU-‐15
Rest EU-‐28
Rest of the world
2013
9,6% Meat Beverages Preparations of cereals Vegetables Sugar & sugar confectionery Flour and malt Fish Other
Dairy Vegetable & fruit preparations Cocoa and cocoa preparations Fats & oils Preparations of meat & fish Cereals Coffee, tea and spices
Export-oriented: exports = 50,1% of total turnover
STRENGTHS OF THE BELGIAN FOOD INDUSTRY Excellence in food QUALITY SAFETY
Optimal efficiency and products with superior quality, safety and taste are central to the Belgian food industry Stringent food safety standards and rigorous monitoring of the quality and safety of food â&#x20AC;&#x201C; HACCP principle Compulsory self-checking system for all companies active in the food chain to guarantee maximum food safety Continuous training of employees in quality management Close collaboration throughout the food chain strengthens the spirit of quality â&#x20AC;&#x201C; traceability throughout the chain An efficient and quality agriculture
STRENGTHS OF THE BELGIAN FOOD INDUSTRY Excellence in food DIVERSIT Y
The Belgian food industry is a robust sector with a wide variety of activities Throughout history Belgium has been a crossroads of flavours which made Belgians very demanding about food and its quality The Belgian food industry consists of 4600 companies, of which a large number are small and medium-sized enterprises. The Belgian food industry is known for chocolate, beer, waffles. But the Belgian food industry has a lot of other export success storiesâ&#x20AC;Ś : worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest exporter of frozen potato products, European leader in frozen vegetables, dairy and meat are exported worldwide, etc.
STRENGTHS OF THE BELGIAN FOOD INDUSTRY Excellence in food INNOVATIO N
Innovation is crucial for the excellence of Belgian agriculture and food products; -Research stations. -Universities. - Innovation in small companies to improve production and safety.
STRENGTHS OF THE BELGIAN FOOD INDUSTRY Other strengths Well located in a dense Western European market Logistics hub in the EU Major ports : Antwerp, Zeebruges, Ghent, Liège
THE BELGIAN FOOD SECTOR Delivering high quality and safe products respecting the environment throughout the food chain
16 self-checking guides for the food processing sector alone, covering Âą 95% of the production Third party certification covering majority of products (and most/all of exported products) Main sectors covered by additional monitoring schemes offering additional guarantees
BELGIUM…. A SMALL COUNTRY, BUT GREAT FOOD
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