Boerenbond

What Boerenbond does

Boerenbond vzw is a Flemish professional agricultural and horticultural association headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, founded in 1890 and reorganized into its modern governance structure in 1972. The organization represents farmers and horticulturists across all of Flanders through a four-tier governance network of bedrijfsgilden (business guilds), 20 regional councils, provincial boards, and 8 national sector working groups (vakgroepen) covering dairy, beef, pigs, poultry, vegetables, fruit, arable farming, and ornamental horticulture. Affiliated legal entities — Landelijke Gilden vzw, Agrocampus vzw, Innovatiesteunpunt voor landbouw en platteland vzw, and Plattelandsklassen vzw — share the same Diestsevest 40 address and extend Boerenbond's scope into rural community building, training, innovation support, and education.

The organization's core product is a member services platform combining advisory, training, market information, and digital tools. Core offerings include specialized calculators and Excel-based tools (Routeplanner Melkvee, MAP-rekenprogramma, Fytochecker, Kredietenrekenblad, GLB Rekenmodule, greenhouse-gas calculator), a live market information platform covering poultry, pig, cattle, and arable prices, member reporting tools (Meldpunt Veeprijzen, Meldpunt Wildschade), and a member-only potato trading platform. Training programs span phytolicense certification (P1/P2/P3), starter courses (installing certificate unlocks VLIF and CAP subsidies), and management courses. Advisory services focus on PAS/nitrogen compliance, farm succession, and market access. The monthly Boer&Tuinder magazine and the public-facing 'Meer boer dan je denkt' platform handle member communications and public engagement.

Boerenbond operates as a nonprofit vzw funded primarily through annual membership dues, with first-year members receiving a 50% discount and partners/young farmers receiving free or subsidized access. Supplementary revenue comes from training fees (e.g., €850 management course partially subsidized via kennisportefeuille), government and EU project funding (VLIF, GLB, EIP-OG, kennisportefeuille), partner-driven member benefits (Doccle 15%, SBB up to 20%, solar-panel partners 25%), and magazine advertising. Distribution is decentralized through 20 regional advisory offices, on-farm consul visits, zitdagen (advice days), AgriCampus, online webinars, and a multi-channel marketing presence. Boerenbond holds recognized social-partner status with the Flemish government, evidenced by influence over policy such as the €4 million top-up for young-farmer income support secured in June 2026.

Name

Boerenbond

Legal name

Boerenbond & Landelijke Gilden

Website

https://boerenbond.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Boerenbond vzw is a Flemish nonprofit agricultural association representing professional farmers and horticulturists across Flanders, Belgium, delivering advocacy, advisory, training, market information, and member-benefit services through 20 regional councils and 8 national sector groups since 1890.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Association Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Farm Management Services (115116), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG / Carbon & Conservation Program Advisory (AFACAJAF), Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL), Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO)

Keywords

• Agricultural association services
• Farmer advisory services
• Agricultural training programs
• Farm market information
• Farmer member benefits

Headquarters

HQ city

Leuven

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Boerenbond generates revenue primarily through membership fees from farmers and horticulturists in Flanders. Members pay annual dues and receive access to advisory services, training, market information, member benefits, and representation of their interests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Boerenbond is a Belgian non-profit professional association that supports Flemish farmers and horticulturists with political advocacy, expert advisory (including PAS/nitrogen compliance), training programs (phytolicense, starters, management courses), market and price information, digital decision-support calculators, and a portfolio of member benefits and discounts. It also coordinates sector working groups, innovation projects, and demonstration days across 20 regional councils in Flanders.

Product overview

Boerenbond operates as a digital member services platform for Flemish farmers, combining a comprehensive suite of advisory, educational, and calculation tools. The core offerings include specialized calculators (Routeplanner Melkvee, MAP-rekenprogramma, Fytochecker, Kredietenrekenblad, GLB Rekenmodule) for farm planning and decision-making, market information services with live pricing, phytolicense training programs, and advisory services like PAS-advies. Additional services encompass starter courses and management training, member magazine (Boer&Tuinder), market reporting tools (Meldpunt Veeprijzen, Meldpunt Wildschade), and an online potato trading platform. The organization also coordinates agricultural innovation projects and demonstration days for practical learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Boer&Tuinder: Monthly magazine provided to Boerenbond members with themed issues, specialized topics, and in-depth content
• Meer boer dan je denkt
• Innovatie
• Vorming en netwerken

Products and services

• PAS-advies Advisory service helping Flemish livestock farmers identify the best PAS or low-emission ammonia measures that fit their farm, including stappenplan and case study brochures launched for post-2030 planning.
• Rekentool Routeplanner Melkvee Online strategic planning tool for dairy farmers to economically evaluate strategic choices for their dairy farm.
• MAP-rekenprogramma Excel-based program for members to create a comprehensive fertilization (MAP) plan for their farm.
• Fytochecker Online tool that compares data and displays trends in water quality with simple clicks.
• MAP-meetpunten raadplegen Online tool for consulting MAP measurement points and tracking the evolution of the MAP measurement network.
• Rekenblad Afwijkende PAS-referentie Online spreadsheet tool to compare 2021 with a representative year and determine whether an alternative PAS reference calculation is worthwhile for the farm.
• Online broeikasgas-calculator Online calculator for greenhouse gas emissions to motivate new ECCOs and track their activities.
• ECCO tijdlijn Online timeline tool helping local renewable energy cooperatives (ECCOs) quickly find the right tools.
• Kredietenrekenblad Online spreadsheet tool for easily recalculating farm credits.
• Rekentool Rentabiliteit Braadkippenhouderij Online calculation tool for analyzing the profitability of broiler chicken farming investments through simulations.
• Rekenblad Fruitteeltsector Rampenfonds Online spreadsheet for fruit growers to calculate total damage amounts for disaster fund applications.
• Rekenmodule GLB Online calculation module mapping the consequences of the new Common Agricultural Policy (GLB) on the farm business.
• Startkit Beleving op de Boerderij Downloadable starter kit for farmers wanting to engage in agro-recreation activities on their farm.
• Inspiratiegids Inspirerende en Vernieuwende Bedrijfsstrategieën Guide providing an overview of paths that agricultural or horticultural farmers can pursue with their business.
• Marktinformatie Online market information platform providing prices for various agricultural sectors including poultry, pigs, cattle, and arable farming.
• Meldpunt Veeprijzen Online platform for reporting livestock prices, creating more market transparency in livestock farming.
• Meldpunt Wildschade Online database tool for reporting crop damage by wildlife, with optional location data entry.
• Onlineplatform Aardappelen Online platform created during the COVID-19 crisis for members to post advertisements for potatoes, addressing potato surpluses.
• Fytolicentie opleidingen Certified training programs for phytolicense (P1 assistant professional use, P2 professional use, P3 distribution and advice), including refresher courses.
• Starterscursus Training course for starting or taking over a farm, leading to an installation certificate that provides access to VLIF financial support and CAP supplementary income support.
• Managementcursus Management course for agricultural entrepreneurs with at least five years of experience, covering AI in agriculture, financial management, and coaching leadership.
• Demodagen Boerenoplossingen Live demonstration days where farmers from all Flemish regions and sectors open their farms to show techniques addressing current challenges while remaining profitable.
• Boer&Tuinder Magazine Monthly themed magazine provided free to Boerenbond members, with in-depth coverage and specialized topics for Flemish farmers and horticulturists.

Quantifiable outcome

• Minister Brouns allocated €4 million extra for young farmers and eco-regulations

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EIP-OG (European Innovation Partnership - Operational Groups)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Boerenbond participates in EIP-OG projects including 'De doos van Pandora' (mental health support for farmers) and HazelSamen. These projects bring together farmers, researchers, and advisors to solve agricultural challenges.
• ILVO (Instituut voor Landbouw-, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ILVO provides technical expertise on hazelnut cultivation (HazelSamen project), agroforestry, and agricultural economics. Boerenbond collaborates with ILVO on multiple innovation projects including practical demonstrations, farm optimization, and sustainable agriculture initiatives.
• Flanders' FOODcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Flanders' FOOD coordinates the HazelSamen project and uses its network within the agro-food industry to support local agricultural initiatives and sponsor farmer collaborations.
• MiginominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Non-subsidized partner in HazelSamen project, bringing expertise in nut oils and nut paste processing (para-agrarian processing of hazelnuts).
• Vlaamse Overheid (Energy Policy Agreement)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2022Boerenbond signed the Energy Policy Agreement (EBO) with the Flemish government, committing to energy efficiency improvements and supporting member farmers in greenhouse horticulture to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030 versus 2005.
• Boerennatuur VlaanderencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2022Boerenbond partners with Boerennatuur Vlaanderen on landscape management. Together they manage 72 km of hedgerows and forest edges through 17 agro-management groups (agrobeheergroepen), contributing to biodiversity and sustainable land management across Flemish farmland.
• KBC and Cera (Klimaatkoploper)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022KBC and Cera partner with Boerenbond on the 'Klimaatkoploper' (Climate Champion) award competition, seeking innovative farmers who demonstrate best climate practices in agriculture.
• De KostwinnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Boerenbond is a partner in the 'Kostwinners' initiative (Vlaams Actieplan Voedselverlies en Biomassareststromen 2021-2025), working to prevent food loss and maximize use of agricultural rest streams. The relative food loss in Flemish agriculture is only 4%, and 70% of food rest streams return to the soil.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Farmers' Union (NFU): UK farmers' union offering advocacy, technical advice, training, and member benefits to English and Welsh farmers. Closest Anglophone analogue to Boerenbond's offering mix.
• Deutscher Bauernverband (DBV): German national farmers' association providing advocacy, advisory, training, and member benefits for German farmers. Large established player with similar mission and structure to Boerenbond at country scale.
• FNSEA: France's main national farmers' union providing representation, advisory, and member services. Comparable advocacy-driven membership model for a national farming constituency.
• COPA-COGECA: Combined voice of European farmers (COPA) and agricultural cooperatives (COGECA) at EU level. Umbrella organization that Boerenbond-like national unions federate into; relevant peer for EU-level advocacy and policy positioning.
• LTO Nederland: Dutch agricultural and horticultural organization (LTO Noord, ZLTO, LLTB combined) representing farmers and growers with advocacy, advisory, and member services. Closest large peer across the border with very similar structure and offering.
• AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board): UK statutory levy board funding research, market intelligence, and knowledge transfer for agriculture and horticulture sectors. Comparable in providing market information, tools, and training to farmers, though funded via levy rather than membership.

Regional players

• Fédération Wallonne de l'Agriculture (FWA): Walloon counterpart farmer federation operating in French-speaking Belgium with similar advocacy, advisory, and member-service functions for the agriculture sector. Comparable business model in a parallel Belgian region.

Others

• Innovatiesteunpunt (Boerenbond affiliate) and ILVO: Flemish government agricultural research institute (ILVO) and Boerenbond's own innovation-support affiliate. Provides research, technical expertise, and innovation project co-development that complements Boerenbond's advisory/training stack.

Direct peers

• Algemeen Boerensyndicaat (ABS): Direct Belgian farmer union representing Flemish agricultural interests. Competes with Boerenbond for the same Flemish farmer membership pool, particularly on representation around nitrogen/PAS and farm-policy issues.

Emerging players

• Groene Kring: Flemish young farmers' association partnering with Boerenbond but operating semi-independently for under-30s. Represents the next-generation farmer pipeline and a partial substitute/feeder into Boerenbond membership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Boerenbond
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BoerenbondWeb
• Facebookfacebook.com/Boerenbond
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boerenbond
• Instagraminstagram.com/boerenbond.be

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Boerenbond