This year saw one of the worst harvests of flax, the raw material for linen, in memory, according to the organisation that represents producers. The dry spring weather interfered with the plant’s short growing season, while the rains in June came too late to rectify the situation. As a result, yields barely reached four tonnes per hectare, compared to six or seven tonnes in a normal year.

This year’s InBev-Baillet Latour Prize for the Environment has been awarded to the Engelendael farm in Sint-Laureins, East Flanders, described as “a perfect example of the symbiosis between ecological and economic activities on private land.” The farm, run by Marc Govaert and Nicole van de Bilt, produces arable crops and cherries and provides a habitat for dozens of bird and mammal species, as well as a rambling track and observation post for bird-watchers.

The University of Ghent last week unveiled its newly renovated research farm, which features a milking facility for 55 cows, stalls for young cattle, a pig farm and fields of food crops for the use of students of the veterinary and bio-engineering departments. The renovations cost €985,000.