Flemish Learning Network for Public Farmland Launched

In early May 2026, the Flemish government (Belgium) launched its Learning Network for Public Farmland, with SPADES partner ILVO playing a key role in its development. The network and its accompanying knowledge database are integral to the SPADES pilot on public agricultural land in Flanders, aligning with the ambition to contribute to land-based farm transitions and enhanced soil care through strategic land allocation policies.

Developed during the co-design phase of SPADES, the network and database will be further elaborated and applied during the implementation phase of the project starting December 2026. ILVO aims to strengthen the link between public farmland management and soil objectives, with plans to initiate conversations and inspire action across Flanders. While early discussions began in the Izenberghe area, the network is now expanding to foster collaboration across the Flemish region, including upcoming workshops in Haspengouw and Zuid-Hageland.

The Learning Network offers four key actions to support its mission:

• A knowledge database with practical information on land inventory, management, and allocation.
• Working groups to address specific challenges in public farmland use.
• A forum to connect pioneers—local governments, regional initiatives, farmers, and planners.
• A contact point for questions and suggestions to ensure the network evolves with real-world needs.

Two exemplary key learnings from the pilot so far:

1. Fragmented ownership of public farmland can hinder policy development. Many local governments lack the knowledge or resources to optimally deploy public land. Collaboration at the regional level - with neighboring municipalities, provinces, or regional landscape initiatives - can help bundle efforts and amplify impact. ILVO is studying the practical and operational aspects of a regionally coordinated allocation policy for fragmented public land ownership geared towards shared (soil) objectives.
2. Public farmland as a lever for broader change: Public farmland can be used to achieve goals on the land itself or to support objectives in the surrounding area. For example, offering public land to farmers in exchange for environmental measures on the private land in their total acreage creates a multiplier effect, turning public land into a tool for wider transformation.

This initiative aligns with parallel projects and initiatives across Europe focused on public farmland. We invite stakeholders to exchange knowledge and experiences, for example in the context of the EU Farmland Observatory and broader soil and generational renewal goals in agriculture.

For more information, visit the Learning Network for Public Farmland (in Dutch).
To explore the strategic agenda further, watch the webinar where researcher Hans Vandermaelen highlights key aspects (in Dutch).
A local workshop will take place in June 2026 in Haspengouw and Zuid-Hageland.

Publishing date: 7 May 2026