After past editions in the Netherlands (Zwolle) and France (Arras), the union of Belgian Horticulture Co-operations will host the 21st International Chicory-bi-annual on the 5th and 6th of October. The theme is: ‘Chicory… Responsibly Fresh’. The Bi-annual usually runs for two days. The symposium takes place at the Faculty Club in Leuven on Friday, the 5th of October. The clinics are being held on Saturday, the 6th of October, with company visits, international variety trials, and a fair in and around research centre Inagro in Rumbeke-Beitem. It is also possible to attend just the symposium or the clinics.
Symposium
On Friday, the 5th of October, you are awaited in the Faculty Club in Leuven for a symposium that is built around four substantive themes. Session one focusses on the evolution of chicory production and trade in Europe, as well as consumption and pricing. Session two will feature speakers from Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, who will make a SWOT analysis of chicory cultivation in their country. Session three covers sustainability, in particular the application of ‘Responsibly Fresh’ in the chicory industry, the sustainable use of crop protective agents, energy conservation in chicory companies, and the fermentation of chicory roots in light of reducing waste. Finally, session four will deal with the theme of
diversification. What possibilities are there, where do buyers place it on the shelf, and what about soil chicory?
Clinics
On the 6th of October, we offer you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the practical side of things. From the research centre Inagro in Rumbeke-Beitem, several West Flemish chicory companies will be visited. At each of these companies, the different aspects of sustainable chicory cultivation will be demonstrated. After all, sustainability isn’t a buzzword, but it is a guarantee for our chicory companies to exist well into the future. The manager of today already needs to take into account the ecological support base, the economic profitability, and the social
integration of the chicory company of the future. Just think about the use of renewable energy by installing solar panels, handling energy in a sustainable way during the storage of chicory roots in cooling cells, extensive automation, proper and pleasant housing, and so much more. The companies are certainly worth a visit! By the way, did you know they grow and trade soil chicory in West Flanders?
After visiting companies and having a good chat with the managers, you will be taken back to Inagro for a delicious lunch. Then we will invite you to view the international variety trials in the chicory warehouse at Inagro. This international variety trial is the result of years of cooperation between Inagro, the National Experimental Garden for Chicory, and the Station Expérimentale de l’Endive in Arras. Every year, new varieties of chicory roots are exchanged. Here you can see, amongst others, how new varieties from different regions score where productivity and quality are concerned.
Lastly, a visit to the fair in the afternoon is also worth your while. At the fair, you can come into contact with different seed houses and suppliers in the chicory industry. The Greenwatt company will demonstrate a pocket installation that produces eco-energy made from chicory roots. The West Flemish chicory industry and Inagro welcome you in advance, and hope you will enjoy a fascinating and inspiring day on the 6th of October.