Filip Fontaine is set to become general director of VLAM, Flanders’ Agricultural Marketing Board, on 1 July, succeeding the retiring Frans De Wachter.
Having studied Agricultural Engineering at the University of Leuven, Fontaine went on to hold various roles in the agricultural and horticultural sectors, including as project manager and environmental advisor at Boerenbond, co-director of the BelOrta cooperative, which he helped to found, and interim CEO at EIT Food. He is currently interim CEO at Lidwina, an adapted work enterprise in the Kempen.
“Flemish agricultural, horticultural and fishing products stand out thanks to their quality, sustainability, transparency and efficient production,” Fontaine said. “This should be communicated in Europe and the rest of the world.
“I can see three major tasks for VLAM at international level in the next few years. Firstly, VLAM must consolidate the existing core markets and open up new markets for our Flemish export. Secondly, we must make smart use of our limited resources, amongst other things by using them as a lever in European subsidy programmes. And thirdly we will increase the impact of our marketing programmes by standing out together as one. Giving our products the place in the spotlight that they deserve all over the world: we will aim for that together.”
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