Raffinerie Tirlemontoise (producer of beet sugar), BENEO (manufacturer of functional ingredients), and Puratos (world leader in bakery, patisserie, and chocolate ingredients) have joined forces to launch the groundbreaking Climate Farming Project. The ambitious initiative supports Belgian farmers in more sustainable agricultural practices and promotes regenerative farming principles that contribute to better soil health and lower environmental impact.
Working together towards resilient agriculture
Climate change poses a major challenge for tomorrow’s agriculture. To anticipate this, collaboration is essential – between farmers, the food industry, and specialists. The Climate Farming Project focuses on practical solutions and knowledge exchange, with the aim of improving soil health and reducing the ecological footprint of agriculture.
But resilient agriculture means more than ecological sustainability. It must also be economically feasible for the farmers themselves. Innovations and new techniques only have a chance of success if they also take into account the profitability of the farm. The project therefore seeks a balance between environment, practice, and financial reality.
15 pilot farms in Belgium
The project, which will run until the end of 2025, will be carried out on 15 pilot farms spread across Belgium. These farms will grow sugar beets, wheat, and chicory using various regenerative farming methods – covering a total area of more than 1,100 football fields.
In practice
The participating farmers are committed to a series of sustainable measures, including:
- Less use of mineral nitrogen fertilisation
- More organic crop protection
- Planting flower beds and hedges for biodiversity
- Cover and catch crops to combat soil erosion
- Targeted use of fertilisers and alternative soil cultivation techniques
Combining these measures not only improves soil fertility, but also strengthens biodiversity in the agricultural ecosystem.
Substantiated and measurable
At the start of the project, an extensive analysis was performed on each farm using the Greencard tool. This baseline measurement made it possible to formulate measurable goals and to choose the right approach per location. The lessons learned from the project will later also be made available to other farmers who work with BENEO and Raffinerie Tirlemontoise.
A voice from the farm
Farmer Fabrice Flamend from Eghezée, one of the participants, emphasises the importance of farmer involvement in these types of projects: “Agriculture must evolve towards regeneration, but this can only happen if farmers actively cooperate. Soil type, crops and economic feasibility play a major role. That is why it is so valuable to share our knowledge and experience through the Climate Farming Project.”
