LEADER 2012_Awareness of sustainable water use in dairy farming

Nowadays families are expected to make an effort to reduce their water use. Sustainable water use is very important to guarantee a water supply for the future generations. In agriculture, animal husbandry is one of the largest water users. We want to organize an awareness-raising action to inform farmers about sustainable water use. Farmers can turn to account those advises to reduce the water use on their farms. We also want to show the rural population, farmers are engaged to use water in a sustainable way. We would like to focus on dairy farming because it is the most important in our LAG Kempen-Maasland. To start up those several actions, we can use the knowledge that was earlier obtained in scientific projects in our region.

Dairy farming in Flanders is the most developed of all in the LAG Kempen-Maasland. In addition we have various knowledge centres such as ‘Test- and Education centre Limburg’ (Proef- en Vormingsinstituut Limburg in Bocholt) and Watering ‘De Dommelvallei’. Those organisations have a lot of knowledge of sustainable water use, that can be opened up to dairy farming. By putting this project idea in an international framework we will be able to exchange knowledge and to grow as a region where sustainable water use is well accepted in dairy farming

This awareness-raising campaign can consist several actions, for example: - Organizing briefings for livestock farmers about sustainable water use. - Organizing visits or events where livestock farmers will be able to exchange knowledge about sustainable water use. Farmers can learn from colleagues who have already invested in sustainable water use. - Counselling services for individual livestock farmers. - Spreading brochures about sustainable water use in livestock farming.

The Netherlands, Germany, please contact: LAG Kempen & Maasland Mr Dries Brullot, LAG-coordinator ’t Poorthuis Zuidervest 2a 3990 Peer Gsm: 0473 945 173 E-mail: dries.brullot@limburg.be

Netherlands, Germany

German, English

22/04/2012