Presented by Koen Cochet (VLM Belgium) at FERTINNOWA's 2nd International workshop "Meeting growers’ needs: Exchanging Technologies on Irrigation and Fertigation" Description: The five-step approach consists of: setting out legislation through participation, communication, field visits with advisory, control and enforcement, and evaluation and fine-tuning legislation. Pressure through legislation, build up several, logical steps to be effective, is a key factor to support the transfer of innovative techniques.

1. Role of the Flemish Land Agency to
implement innovative techniques
for growing media

2. 5 steps how the Flemish Land Agency
contributes
Setting out legislation through participation
Communication
Field visits with advisory
Control and enforcement
Evaluation and fine tuning legislation
With each step, pressure is put on growers to innovate and
implement innovative techniques
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3. 1. Setting out legislation through
participation
Participatory process 2006-2008
Representatives of farmers with growing media involved
Process description abstracts of Nutrihort 2013: Nitrates
Directive in Flanders’ horticulture: towards nutrient
management through participation (Grauwels K., Cochez K.,
Desimpelaere K.)
=> Available www.FERTINNOWA.com
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4. 2. Communication
In the period 2008-2009 communication
The new legislation was explained on meetings (> 10)
what was expected
e.g. storage capacity drainwater
how much time conceded to take measures
what to do in case of
e.g. non useable drainwater towards grassland
etc.
Brochures available (under revision)
Questioning by telephone, e-mail
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5. 3. Field visits with advisory
In 2009-2014 field visits with advisory
About 1,000 horticulturists growing media visited (> 0,5 ha)
Findings descripted in the abstracts of Nutrihort 2013 (until July
2013): The Flemish approach to reduce nutrient losses from
soilless horticulture: legislation to practice (Cochez K. and
Jacobs D.)
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6. Regeneration sand filter – basic solution
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disposal
decanting basin

7. Innovative technique
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8. 4. Control and enforcement
From 2013 control and enforcement takes place
Independent of the advisory service
Findings descripted in the yearly report Mestrapport (only in
Dutch)
www.vlm.be > Thema's > Startpagina Mestbank >
Achtergrond > Brochures Mestbank > Mestrapporten
Internal reorganisation Flemish Land Agency: the advisory
service expended at the end of 2017
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9. 5. Evaluation and fine tuning legislation
Coming soon
Evaluation and fine tuning legislation
Some items enclosed
strengthening were possible
what about tray- and container
fields in open air
sneak preview
the role of supervisors
what is a future proof advice
=> step number 6?
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?

10. Message government representatives
Set out some pressure through legislation
Build up several, logical, steps to keep pressure ongoing
2 keys necessary to support transfer of innovative techniques.
And that is all what’s FERTINNOWA about!
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11. More information
www.vlm.be
info@vlm.be
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https://twitter.com/woordvoerdervlm
https://www.facebook.com/VlaamseLandmaatschappij
https://www.linkedin.com/company/vlaamse-landmaatschappij

12. www.vlm.be