BioForum
BioForum vzw is a Belgian non-profit sector organization for Flemish organic agriculture and food, supporting the entire organic supply chain (farmers, processors, distributors, retailers, foodservice, certifiers) via membership, advocacy, the Bio Actief magazine, the Biobedrijvengids and Biopunten directories, and education content.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersAntwerp, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BioForum does
BioForum vzw (the legal entity) is a Belgian non-profit sector organization headquartered in Antwerp (Regine Beerplein 1, E305, 2018 Antwerpen) that serves as the recognized trade body for the Flemish organic agriculture and food sector. It represents and supports the entire organic supply chain — farmers, processing companies, distributors, retailers, food services, control/certification bodies, research institutions, and societal organizations — primarily through advocacy, information sharing, networking, and representation rather than as a commercial operator.
Its core offerings are content and directory assets rather than technology products. These include (i) the Biobedrijvengids, a public B2B directory of organic companies in Flanders; (ii) Biopunten, a consumer-facing directory of organic points of sale; (iii) Bio Actief, a quarterly professional magazine with a circulation of approximately 2,900 copies; (iv) an online Toolkit of FAQs, productfiches (product sheets), business materials, and educational content for entrepreneurs; and (v) publications such as Bio & de wet (legislation guides) and the Inspiratiegids. The underlying technology is a relatively standard Drupal-based web platform with no disclosed APIs, SDKs, mobile apps, or proprietary AI. Reach metrics are modest: roughly 4,500 monthly website visitors and ~4,390 unique visitors per Google Analytics. Media sales for Bio Actief and the website are handled by external partner ELMA.
Revenue mechanics are typical of a sector NGO and span three streams: (a) recurring membership fees from farmers, processors, distributors, retailers, and other sector participants across the value chain; (b) advertising revenue from Bio Actief (full/half/quarter-page ads and inserts) and logo/banner placements on the website; and (c) one-time publication revenue from specialized guides and educational materials. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Headcount is in the 11–50 range, with named comms lead Laura van Lokven (Communicatie & Netwerk) handling PR, the Toolkit, and social channels (LinkedIn and Facebook). Strategic direction is anchored by a five-year plan covering 2024–2029, with active cooperation on the VLAM-led three-year EU promotional campaign launched in April 2026.
BioForum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BioForum
- Legal name
- BioForum vzw
- Website
- https://bioforum.be
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BioForum vzw is a Belgian non-profit sector organization for Flemish organic agriculture and food, supporting the entire organic supply chain (farmers, processors, distributors, retailers, foodservice, certifiers) via membership, advocacy, the Bio Actief magazine, the Biobedrijvengids and Biopunten directories, and education content.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BioForum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Sector Organization
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Organic & Biological Input Retail (Biostimulants, Biopesticides, OMRI) (AFABAJAK)
Keywords
Where BioForum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Antwerp
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
BioForum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership fees: BioForum generates revenue through membership fees from organic farmers, processors, distributors, retailers, and other sector participants.
- Advertising: Revenue from advertising in their quarterly magazine Bio Actief (circulation ~2900 copies) and on their website (average ~4500 visitors/month).
- Publications: Revenue from specialized publications including Bio & de wet (bio legislation guides), the Inspiratiegids, and other educational materials for the organic sector.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Bio Actief magazine advertising |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
BioForum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BioForum is the sector organization for Flemish organic agriculture and food, uniting and supporting the entire organic food chain from farmers through processors, distributors, retailers, foodservice, control organizations, and research institutions. It delivers this through membership programs, two public directories (Biobedrijvengids for B2B and Biopunten for consumers), the quarterly Bio Actief professional magazine, specialized publications on bio legislation, and a toolkit of educational and communication resources for organic entrepreneurs.
Product overview
BioForum is the sector organization for Flemish organic agriculture and food, offering a portfolio of services including two public directories (Biobedrijvengids for B2B audiences and Biopunten for consumers), the quarterly Bio Actief professional magazine, and an online toolkit providing FAQs, product sheets, and business materials. The organization also sells advertising across its print and digital properties.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Biobedrijvengids A public B2B directory listing organic farms and businesses in the Flemish organic sector, enabling business-to-business connections across the supply chain.
- Biopunten A consumer-facing online database of organic points of sale and organic businesses that helps consumers locate organic retailers and producers.
- Bio Actief Magazine A quarterly professional magazine for bio entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers, featuring company profiles, market information, and sector statistics.
- Bio & de wet Publications explaining European and Flemish legislation related to the organic sector, providing regulatory guidance to organic sector participants.
- Bio Actief Advertising Quarterly magazine advertising placements in Bio Actief including 1/4, 1/2, or full page ads with optional inserts, reaching approximately 2,900 copies per edition.
- Website Banner Advertising Online advertising through logo placement on the BioForum website, 145 x 145 pixels, reaching approximately 4,390 unique visitors monthly.
- BioForum Membership Membership program for organic farmers, processors, distributors, retailers, and other sector participants in Flanders, providing sector representation, networking, and access to member-only resources.
Companies that use BioForum
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
BioForum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
BioForum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- ELMAsupportingELMA is the media partner for BioForum's advertising sales. Contact person Sven Destercke handles advertising inquiries for the Bio Actief magazine and website placements.
- VLAMcoreVLAM and BioForum collaborate on promotion campaigns for organic products in Belgium. VLAM launched a new three-year EU campaign in April 2026 to promote organic products, working with sector organizations including BioForum.
- BiobedrijvengidscoreOnline B2B directory of organic companies managed by BioForum for business networking within the sector.
- BiopuntencoreConsumer-facing directory of organic points of sale managed by BioForum to connect consumers with organic retailers.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
BioForum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Naturland: Germany-based international organic farming association active in over 60 countries. Comparable to BioForum as an organic sector association offering certification, producer representation, and advocacy, with similar scope across farming, processing, and trade.
- Bio Suisse: Umbrella organization for Swiss organic farmers and processors, operating the Bud label. Directly comparable to BioForum as a national/regional sector body that unites the organic value chain, sets standards, runs a label, and represents members to government and the public.
- Biowallonie: Walloon organic sector organization supporting organic producers in French-speaking Belgium. A direct peer to BioForum, operating the same role on the other side of Belgium's linguistic border, with similar member services, technical advice, and representation activities.
- Soil Association: UK-based charity and organic certification body that promotes organic food, farming, and sustainable forestry. Comparable to BioForum in acting as a sector-wide trade and certification organization for organic producers, with publications, certification, and policy advocacy as core activities.
- Organic Denmark: Danish organic industry association bringing together producers, retailers, foodservice, and consumers to grow the organic market. Comparable to BioForum in acting as a national-level convening body with strong retail and consumer-facing campaigns, similar to BioForum's Bioweek.
- Bio Austria: Austrian association of organic farmers and the country's largest organic producer organization. Directly comparable as a regional/national membership-based association representing organic farmers, providing advice, training, marketing, and policy representation.
- Agence Bio: French national agency for the development and promotion of organic agriculture, under the supervision of the French Ministry of Agriculture. Directly comparable to BioForum as a national-level sector organization tasked with promoting organic consumption and supporting the entire organic chain.
Emerging players
- FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture): Leading Europe-based applied research institute focused on organic agriculture, with operations in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, and beyond. Comparable as an organic-sector knowledge partner that BioForum's research-institution members collaborate with, though FiBL is research-led rather than a trade body.
Others
- VLAM (Flanders' Agricultural Marketing Board): Flemish government-affiliated body promoting Flemish agricultural and fishery products domestically and abroad. Adjacent ecosystem player rather than a direct competitor — BioForum actively partners with VLAM on organic promotion campaigns, including the 2026 EU campaign.
Broad incumbents
- IFOAM Organics International: Global umbrella organization for the organic agriculture movement, uniting over 700 affiliates in more than 100 countries. Broader incumbent peer to BioForum — operates at worldwide scale but follows the same trade-body model of organic representation, standards, and advocacy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BioForum social profiles
Digital presenceBioForum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BioForum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
BioForum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BioForum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BioForum
What does BioForum do?
BioForum is the sector organization for Flemish organic agriculture and food, uniting and supporting the entire organic food chain from farmers through processors, distributors, retailers, foodservice, control organizations, and research institutions. It delivers this through membership programs, two public directories (Biobedrijvengids for B2B and Biopunten for consumers), the quarterly Bio Actief professional magazine, specialized publications on bio legislation, and a toolkit of educational and communication resources for organic entrepreneurs.
Is BioForum a public or private company?
BioForum is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was BioForum founded?
BioForum was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BioForum based?
BioForum is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does BioForum make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership fees are the primary driver. The others are advertising and publications.
Who are BioForum's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Naturland, Bio Suisse, Biowallonie, Soil Association, Organic Denmark, Bio Austria and Agence Bio. FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture) is listed as an emerging player. VLAM (Flanders' Agricultural Marketing Board) is listed as an others. IFOAM Organics International is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does BioForum have an API?
No public API is recorded for BioForum.
What industry is BioForum in?
BioForum's product category is Agricultural Sector Organization. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAI, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, with a secondary code of AFABAJAK, Organic & Biological Input Retail (Biostimulants, Biopesticides, OMRI). Its SIC code is 700.