The agricultural sector is going to have to adapt to the new circumstances. We’re already suffering the consequences [among them the destruction of much of this year’s fruit harvest by storms]. Agriculture also has a role to play in cutting emissions of greenhouse gases, and our job will be to figure out who can do what to contribute.
What role does farming play in
a global policy to fight climate
change?
Technical progress will allow us
to maintain productivity with
less energy input. Demand for
agricultural produce is going to
rise. We’re going to have to feed
even more people. We need to look
again at how we handle the soil
and the use of fertilisers. In animal
farming, it may be that we need
to become even more intensive,
and genetics could provide some
answers to allow us to produce
more. Those are all questions we’ll
be considering from January, when
there will be a series of round-table
discussions.
Agriculture is often seen as
a source of environmental
problems. Is that fair?
It’s true agriculture is often seen
in that light, but we have taken
positive action – for example in the
area of nitrates. Water quality has
improved, and there are further
positive steps to come. Agriculture
does have a major impact on the
environment, but then so do sectors
like industry and transport.
What do you see as the immediate
priorities for your industry?
Water quality is going to be the
absolute priority in the coming
years. The conference [in Durban]
was concerned with mitigation
of the effects of climate change,
and I think the future lies in the
development of new technologies
that will improve things without
having a negative economic impact.
I believe in technical progress and
I think it offers us a number of
solutions. I feel very strongly that
that is where the answers are going
to be found.
Flanders Today is a 
12°C / 25°C
