The Agriculture Innovation Fund of Port of Antwerp-Bruges supports farmer-led innovation in Grenspark Groot Saeftinghe, a cross-border landscape where port activity, agriculture, nature and local communities meet. In this sensitive area, the Fund helps reconcile environmental protection, agricultural viability and port-related regional development by enabling farmers to test practical, sustainable solutions adapted to their own land and business context.
The Fund focuses on nature-inclusive and climate-resilient agriculture. Supported projects include the ecological management of flower and herb strips as biodiversity corridors, harrier-friendly and protein-rich cropping systems, circular reuse of biomass, farm composting, soil improvement, controlled drainage and measures that improve water retention and infiltration. Together, these initiatives contribute to richer soil life, stronger habitats for pollinators and birds, reduced environmental pressure, better groundwater and freshwater management, and greater resilience to drought, salinisation and extreme rainfall.
A defining feature of the project is its bottom-up and partnership-based approach. Farmers are not only consulted but actively initiate projects, while Port of Antwerp-Bruges provides leadership, resources and governance together with regional and cross-border partners. Project proposals are assessed with input from agricultural, water-management, research and regional stakeholder expertise, ensuring that supported measures are environmentally meaningful, technically feasible and relevant for the farming community.
The Fund also contributes to community-building around the port by strengthening trust with farmers operating close to port and industrial activities. It shows how a port authority can take responsibility beyond the quay walls: supporting biodiversity, climate adaptation and sustainable land use while reinforcing local livelihoods. In doing so, the Fund contributes several UN SDGs, notably SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 17 (Partnerships), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through sustainable agriculture.