The fruit and vegetable auctions Brava in Zellik and Kampenhout (Flemish Brabant) and Greenpartners in Sint-Katelijne-Waver (Antwerp province) have merged under the name Coöbra. The merger between the two auctions, which have more and 1,000 members and employ 100 staff, was announced back in August, but no name had yet been chosen. The joint venture will be chaired by Brava chairman Josse De Baerdemaeker.

The agriculture committee of the Flemish parliament last week unanimously agreed to a series of measures aimed at publicising the problem of the decline of bee colonies (see Flanders Today, 27 July) and bringing stakeholders together to combat the causes. Bees are dying off from a combination of pesticides, varroa mites and loss of habitat. Measures proposed would include public education, training for beekeepers, development of medical solutions and encouragement for farmers to maintain hedgerows and varied crops.