Last week, B-Trust hosted a co-creation session at Agriflanders, one of Belgium’s largest agricultural trade fairs, to engage directly with farmers on the role of biotechnology in agriculture. The session aimed to gather insights, foster dialogue, and explore trust-building strategies in the implementation of biotechnological innovations.

By integrating this session into a key industry event, we provided participants with an opportunity to discuss biotechnology in a familiar setting, while also giving them access to the broader innovations showcased at Agriflanders. Farmers who joined the session were offered a free entry ticket and meal as a contribution for their valuable participation.

Diverse Voices, Engaging Discussions

The session brought together 19 farmers, to ensure a structured discussion, farmers were divided into two groups based on their farming focus:

🔹 Group 1: Livestock & Mixed Farmers (9 participants) – Focused on:
✔ Eating the Cells – Understanding microbial proteins and alternative food sources
✔ Cell Factories – Microorganisms as sustainable production tools
✔ Bacteriophages – Biotechnology in disease prevention

🔹 Group 2: Crop Farmers (10 participants) – Explored:
✔ Biostimulants & Biofertilizers – Enhancing crop resilience
✔ NGTs (New Genomic Techniques) – Advances in genetic improvement
✔ Bacteriophages – Their role in plant protection

Key Takeaways from the Workshop

The discussions revealed a broad spectrum of opinions, ranging from skepticism to openness towards new biotechnological applications. Some farmers were cautious, particularly regarding consumer acceptance and regulatory uncertainties, while others saw biotechnology as an opportunity to enhance sustainability and efficiency in farming.

Despite differences in perspectives, the dialogue remained constructive and respectful, highlighting the importance of open discussions in fostering trust. Engaging directly with farmers ensures that their concerns, expectations, and expertise are considered in the future development and governance of biotechnological innovations.

Next Steps

The insights gathered from this co-creation session will contribute to the B-Trust project’s ongoing research on building consumer and stakeholder trust in biotechnology. Stay connected for more updates on upcoming engagement activities and findings!

📢 Join the conversation on biotechnology, innovation, and trust with B-Trust!

This project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme 2021-2027.