A shame: Belgium imports 80% of the "organic" sold
The supply of organic products is insufficient in Belgium compared to demand, which means that almost 80% of organic products are imported. As BelRTL explains, this is ecological nonsense.
Magazine - Science and Health 8:29
It is not because a product is from organic farming that it is necessarily local, and vice versa. So, when you find an organic product in a store, it can come from far away: it had to be sent to Belgium, which pollutes. Our country imports around 80% of the organic products sold to meet the ever increasing demand, which is therefore ecological nonsense.
Lack of structures is at the root of the shortage
However, more and more farmers want to switch to organic. But the structures are insufficient: not enough experts to train these new organic farmers, no structured distribution chain.
European agricultural standards are inconsistent
Agricultural standards (mostly European) also do not take into account organic producers, for example, they force meat producers to carry out certain vaccines on animals, while organic producers refuse to use drugs, and that their animals are not likely to catch diseases thanks to a more natural food.
Organic farming calls for action
The sector requires several things to reduce the inconsistencies caused by the current system.
- Strengthen existing organizations to serve as centers of expertise
- Further develop research in the organic sector
- Develop distribution structures
- Coordination between the different political actors (regions), especially vis-à-vis Europe
The Walloon region has included in its regional policy declaration the development of organic farming and the strengthening of the sector.
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