Energy crisis: possibly almost no Flemish tomatoes next winter

There is a risk of significant job loss in greenhouse horticulture, and the agricultural organization also warns of consequences for electricity production.

Farming in greenhouses is very energy consuming. The high prices are therefore a cause for concern for horticulturists, says Boerenbond. A quarter of the companies would consider temporarily stopping or leaving the greenhouse partially empty. Illuminated crops, such as tomato cultivation, will be almost non-existent this winter, according to the agricultural organization. There will be tomatoes in the shops, says Boerenbond, but they will come from elsewhere.

4,200 people work in greenhouse horticulture. Boerenbond warns that a quarter to 30 percent could become temporarily unemployed and that 10 to 15 percent could be fired themselves.

Warning

If cultivation is scaled back, this could also have consequences for power production, warns Boerenbond. Greenhouses often work with combined heat and power. These are gas-fired installations that give off heat to the greenhouses, but also produce electricity at the same time. According to Boerenbond, the sector thus produces energy for approximately 630,000 families. A third of that would be in danger of disappearing.

Boerenbond hopes that government measures can keep the problems under control. The growers are now busy making their plans and need clarity, it sounds like. The agricultural organization therefore asks that the Flemish government urgently issues a so-called tender so that companies that voluntarily consume less gas receive compensation.