The Colruyt Group leases land to farmers in Belgium in an attempt to placate critics who claim its agricultural property policies push up excessive plot prices. But many are still unhappy with Colruyt’s operations.
According to RTBF, some farmers consider the contracts offered to be detrimental to those who accept them, claiming that they will work more and earn less.
Vincent Delobel raises goats near Tournai and is a member of the United Federation of Breeders and Farmers Groups (FUGEA).
In an interview with RTBF, Delobel denounced the working conditions that the group imposes on farmers working with Colruyt, as well as the large offers the group makes for the sale of agricultural land in the region. These offers exceed the already very high prices of agricultural plots.
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"Usually, we go for the farm lease that protects us,” he told RTBF. “But the contracts of less than one year offered by Colruyt turn producers into false independents." The farmer called on the group to propose specifications and prices for products that are fair to farmers.
In response, RTBF cited a spokesperson for Colruyt as saying: “Our contracts are transparent and fair. Our desire is that Belgian farmland remains dedicated to agriculture."
The spokesperson also added that its purchases of farmland were very limited but also that farmers who worked under contract were very satisfied.
