Province of Limburg supports Bioregion Network Netherlands

During the Biobeurs in Apeldoorn, the Bioregion Network Netherlands was officially launched. The Province of Limburg was present as a supporting member. In this network, six Bioregions, 13 municipalities, one aspiring region and eight provinces work together to strengthen organic agriculture and food locally. This step supports the development of Bioregions in Limburg and links Limburg to developments around Bioregions at home and abroad.

Deputy member Kuntzelaers: ''For Limburg, this is a logical step. Because if we want more farmers to switch to organic, there has to be a market in return. Currently, over three per cent of Limburg's agricultural land is organic. This can only grow if there is sufficient demand and farmers can also make a good living from it. By joining the Bioregion Network Netherlands, we are taking a step towards stimulating that demand, shortening chains and helping farmers to strengthen their earnings model. In this way, together with our farmers, we are building a future-proof food system. This ties in directly with the stimulus plan for organic farming we are currently working on."

Sustainable impact

A Bioregion is a municipality, city or region in which the local government works together with social and private partners on a coherent policy linking organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture, food, nature and health. What this means in practice, the members have laid down in a joint Bioregion Ambition Document. This contains three main criteria to which the six full Bioregion members commit: administrative commitment, a point of contact in the municipality and taking action on at least three of seven main themes. There are no bioregions in Limburg yet, but participation helps municipalities to kick-start this development.

Local initiatives and ambitions

Member Bioregions have already taken concrete steps:

• Zutphen offers organic picking gardens in several neighbourhoods.
• Amsterdam has included a minimum of 25% organic in its tendering criteria for municipal catering.
• Eindhoven has signed a declaration of intent for more organic in corporate catering.
• South-Veluwe (Arnhem, Wageningen, Ede and Renkum) and Greidhoeke (Súdwest-Fryslân, Waadhoeke, Leeuwarden and Harlingen) are focusing on strengthening local marketing connections.
• Greidhoeke was the first Bioregion to secure EU funding to implement the programme plan.
• Land van Cuijk has included 15% organic farming in its leasing policy.

Stimulation of organic farming

Parallel, the Province of Limburg is working on an incentive plan for organic farming. Based on discussions with farmers, chain partners, education and interest groups - completed at the end of March - a package of measures is being developed. The effort focuses on conversion support, knowledge and education, marketing and consumption and cooperation in the chain. Investment opportunities are also being explored, as well as knowledge sharing through entrepreneurs and increasing the share of organic in catering and regional sales.

Cooperation and support

The members of the Bioregion Network Netherlands aim to exchange best-practices, explore financing opportunities and make connections with foreign Bioregion networks. In addition, the network supports potential Bioregions and municipalities to join. In the start-up phase, the network is firmly supported by the Biological Action Plan of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN). This support includes the appointment of a coordinator. The government encourages organic farming because of its positive effects on biodiversity and clean soil, air and water.