Unprecedented rainfall in Belgium since October 2023 has made conditions particularly difficult for farmers, especially those in urban areas.
The constant rain has slowed the growth of plants, leading to significant delays in harvesting. Furthermore, the excess moisture is destroying crops, suffocating the soil and encouraging the proliferation of slugs and diseases.
Such detrimental conditions have resulted in Brussels and its surrounding areas suffering an average loss of 40% in food production. More alarming is the even gravater damage experienced in some sub-sectors, such as beekeeping, with losses reaching up to 75%, and herbal tea production, enduring losses of up to 60%.
The farming industry regrets that prices will rise as a consequence, whilst the variety of products available to consumers – and their quality – is likely to fall.
Faced with such adversity, urban farmers are concerned for their future. The Brussels Federation of Urban Agriculture Professionals (FedeAU) has therefore called for support to continue providing quality, healthy food. During the Libramont Agricultural Fair, the Federation called on political leaders to provide streamlined financial aid. It also pressed for more ambitious measures to promote biodiversity and combat climate change.
In addition to this, a call was issued to citizens to support their Brussels-based urban agriculture. In 2022, urban agriculture produced more than 470 tonnes of food in the capital alone. Currently, there are approximately 40 productive projects employing around 140 people, equivalent to 90 full-time jobs.
