Publication Annual report ILVO 2024
This ILVO 2024 annual report opens with a picture of Gentse Gronden, an exhibition that ran this year at the city museum of Ghent (STAM). The expo was largely based on ILVO research on the importance of public lands for Flemish agriculture. Many debates, workshops and seminars organized as part of the expo
brought this research not only to other scientists, but also to policy makers and the general public. The impact is considerable, given that public lands have been included in administrative agreements at the Flemish, provincial and municipal levels.
In Gentse Gronden we brought science and culture together. Just like in the time of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, where art, technology and science went hand in hand, we at ILVO are constantly looking for creative ways to make knowledge accessible. Our AgriCulture evenings are another great example, where artists and authors share their agriculturally-themed work with our staff.
2024 was the year of a new Flemish coalition agreement. Where possible, ILVO research aligns with the aims of this governmental agreement. We continue to focus on sustainable innovation and digitalization. With DjustConnect we continue the construction of a Flemish dataspace for the agri-food sector. The Klimrek project develops tools for climate monitoring that are already being applied in dairy farming. In arable farming and horticulture, we are investigating how agroecological and regenerative agriculture, organic farming and agroforestry can be implemented in Flanders.
Climate research is of course still a spearhead, with additional attention to water management and climate adaptation. In livestock farming, we are investing in the Stable of the Future with innovations that help reduce nitrogen and methane emissions. We are also committed to speeding up the approval of new low-emission techniques and management measures, and we continue to carry out our reference tasks regarding emissions in livestock farming.
ILVO’s pioneering work continues in the fields of food innovation and biodiversity. We actively contribute to the dialogue between agriculture and nature and work on biodiversity monitoring at the agro-ecological site in Hansbeke. In the Food Pilot, we support the food industry in developing sustainable and safe products. We are also committed to protein diversification, including through microbial proteins, in cooperation with Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant.
In fisheries, we have taken a big step in digital transformation. VISTOOLS is now implemented on 37 vessels, an important step toward real- time data collection. This data makes the fishing fleet a platform for data collection and will eventually support
an ecosystem approach to fisheries management.
In short, at ILVO we continue to work with conviction for a sustainable, innovative and future-oriented agriculture, fisheries and food sector.
Enjoy your reading!