Food production
Agricultural production​
Description​
The production of agricultural products refers to the agricultural crops that are harvested within an area. The monetary benefit is the added value of the products produced on these plots.
Required information:
Number of hectares per main crop: grain and silo maize; grains, seeds and pods; grassland; forage; flax and hemp; vegetables, herbs and ornamental plants; potatoes; sugar beets; strawberries; other small fruits and nuts; low-stem orchard (apples and pears); standard orchard; other crops
Qualitative appreciation​
For the qualitative assessment we use a very simple scoring system in which a score of 10 is assigned to agricultural areas and a score of 1 to non-agricultural areas.
Further nuances in qualitative assessment are possible depending on, for example, management (combination with environmental and nature objectives), soil suitability, susceptibility to erosion or proximity to the company headquarters. A comprehensive analysis framework that takes these factors into account was developed within the Agricultural Impact Study (LIS) of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Bollen, 2012). LIS is recommended if an analysis is done on a plot basis and the question is where converting agricultural land has the least impact on agricultural production. The scoring methodology in this manual is sufficient to determine for a larger area how the importance of agricultural production can change due to changes in land use.
Quantitative and monetary valuation​
Quantification of agricultural production is done on the basis of the 2019 land use map (based on 2019 agricultural use plots) and agricultural profit and loss accounts.
The agricultural profit and loss accounts reflect the status of the revenues and costs (excluding VAT) of a sector (per animal type, cultivation) or of a number of sectors together. The results come from approximately 600 agricultural and horticultural companies that are part of the Agricultural Monitoring Network (LMN).
A typical social cost-benefit analysis or calculation of social benefits mainly looks at the direct production value or production losses (in the event of the disappearance of agricultural land). Any costs and premiums saved are deducted from the production value. The net value then consists of the difference between the production value and the production costs. Here we take the gross balance as an indicator (total revenue (excl. premiums) – the sum of all operating costs). Given the variability in yields, it is advisable to take an average over several years.
The listed indicators are not suitable for forage crops. The available operating results are mainly based on production costs. We cannot use market prices, because most of the fodder crops are not sold, but are used as animal feed. For forage crops, the Agriculture & Fisheries Department has drawn up an alternative method that divides the gross operating results of dairy cattle and beef cattle over forage crop plots and thus obtains a yield factor per hectare of forage crop. This method is probably most in line with the way farmers value their roughage. However, it is a complex calculation method that requires a large number of assumptions. For a more detailed explanation of how this is calculated, we would like to refer to Van der Straeten B. and Deuninck J. (2016).
The weighted average from 2009-2013 is €1,799/ha for grassland and other forage crops. We assume that this is comparable for the period 2015-2019.
Assumptions​
- We only charge operational costs and no fixed costs, because we assume that no agricultural companies will disappear or labor will be lost, so that fixed, structural costs will not change.
- The operating results are shown based on the cultivated area. This is the total area occupied by the crop, expressed in hectares.
- The key figures used are based on the field registration in 2019. The composition of crops varies greatly from year to year. This is not taken into account. We do take the variation in yields in crops into account by taking an average value of the gross balances over the years 2015-2019.
- The agricultural figures only include a sample of companies and not all crops are surveyed. We use average values of the available crops for crops from the same class.
- Wallonia uses its own figures. Where these were not available, we used the Flemish figures. The Flemish figures are used for areas outside Belgium.
Numbers to use​
Table: average of gross farm results in Flanders grouped by main crop 2015-2019 (€/ha.year)
| Main crop | low | high |
|---|---|---|
| Grain maize | 432 | 954 |
| Silo maize | 1453 | 2122 |
| Grains, seeds and legumes | 648 | 1097 |
| Pasture | 1418 | 2070 |
| Forages | 1418 | 2070 |
| Flax and hemp | 835 | 1498 |
| Vegetables, herbs and ornamental plants | 3424 | 3424 |
| Potatoes | 1357 | 3968 |
| Sugar beets | 920 | 1678 |
| Strawberries | 395 | 395 |
| Other small fruits and nuts | 4536 | 4536 |
| Other crops | 1663 | 2219 |
| Low-stem orchard | 8677 | 8677 |
| Standard orchard | 8677 | 8677 |
| Woody plants | yield included in wood production | |
| Fallow/road | 0 | 0 |
| Agricultural infrastructure (buildings, pavements) | land use included in urban land use |
Translation to indicator​
On the one hand, the calculated values are used as such as agricultural income loss/gain, and on the other hand, the Euros are converted into food supply for residents. The latter is calculated by dividing the area of agriculture and pasture by the area required for food supply of an average Flemish person (literature between 1,448 m² and 2,500 m² per inhabitant (Dankaert et al. 2013)).
We must mention that this required area is calculated on the basis of the current food pattern (2013) of the average Flemish person. If this pattern changes due to, for example, less meat, the surface area can decrease. On the other hand, the indicator does not mean that these people have to be hungry. After all, a lot of food is exported and imported.
An example​
For the example, we refer to the Dutch version of the manual.
Wild​
Description​
Ecosystems produce game species that can be used for food. In addition to food production, this service also has other benefits such as the recreational function of hunting, photography and observation, or use as material, e.g. fur.
The benefit with regard to food production can be valued by multiplying the amount of game shot by the market price for game. In Flanders, the total value of this service is very limited. Furthermore, there is insufficient information to allocate these to specific areas. We have therefore not included any valuation methods for this service in the manual. In addition to the productive function, hunting and wild life observation also has a recreational aspect, which is part of the cultural services. The recreational benefits of hunting are implicitly included in the experience for recreationists, tourists and local residents, without any specific distinction being made between hunters.
Uncultivated crops​
Description​
Ecosystems produce natural food products such as berries, nuts, mushrooms, plants and herbs.
Everything indicates that collecting and harvesting natural products in Flanders is largely limited to hobbyism. Wild picking of hazelnuts, chestnuts, edible mushrooms and the like are well known in Flanders and even common in some places. However, exact figures on its distribution and frequency do not exist. Moreover, the Nature Decree, the Forest Decree and the decision of the Flemish Government regarding species protection and management impose strict restrictions on harvesting (Meiresonne and Turkelboom, 2012).
In addition to the productive function, picking and harvesting also includes a recreational aspect, which is part of the cultural services. The benefits of this service are included in the experience for recreationists, tourists and local residents, without being specifically distinguished.
Freshwater fishing​
Description​
Flowing and still waters produce fish that can be caught sustainably. In Flanders, this service mainly benefits in terms of recreation and to a much lesser extent in terms of food production. A minority (13%) of fishermen on public waters sometimes take a fish home (figures ANB, Knack 2016). In addition, there is a maximum take-along limit of 5 fish per fishing session. In total, approximately 91,000 kg of fish were taken in 2015.
Furthermore, there is not much aquaculture on fresh surface waters in Flanders. Fish is only farmed in a number of limited pond areas, such as De Wijers in Limburg.
Since the greatest benefit lies in the recreational aspect of angling, the benefits of angling are contained in the experience for recreationists, tourists and local residents, without anglers being specifically distinguished.
Sea fishing​
Description​
Various fish, crustaceans and algae living in the sea can be caught or harvested. Various ecosystems contribute to the production of fish in the seas and oceans. This service is not only relevant to marine environments, but some estuarine or freshwater habitats also influence it as a nursery function. In addition, limited aquaculture is practiced in Flanders in the sea and along the coast. Attributing the tonnage of fish caught to the correct ecosystems that contribute to this requires information that is not available and many assumptions.