Westhoek Seeks Ancient Fruit Trees to Revive Belgium’s Heritage Varieties

Reviving Belgium's Heritage: Westhoek Seeks Ancient Fruit Trees

Dewitte emphasizes the importance of preserving historical fruit varieties, aiming to reintroduce them into new orchards while safeguarding the region's genetic heritage.

Marie Dupont14 April 2025Last Update : 4 days ago

Westhoek zoekt oude fruitbomen: "Oude fruitrassen in kaart brengen en herintroduceren"

www.vrt.be

On April 14, 2025, a significant initiative will kick off to preserve Belgium‘s historical fruit tree varieties. Dewitte emphasizes the importance of this project to ensure that ancient fruit types are reintroduced into modern orchards, safeguarding the region’s agricultural heritage for future generations.

5 Key Takeaways

Inventariseer oude bomen en fruitrassen
Herintroduceer historische fruitrassen in boomgaarden
Gebruik ent-methode voor vermeerderen van rassen
Zoek 1-jarige twijgen op oude fruitbomen
Behoud historisch DNA voor toekomstige generaties

Fast Answer: This initiative aims to conserve Belgium’s unique fruit tree genetics by reintroducing old varieties into new orchards, benefiting local biodiversity and agriculture.

How Will Belgium Preserve Its Historic Fruit Varieties?

The preservation of historic fruit varieties in Belgium is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and cultural heritage. Dewitte explains that using the grafting method allows them to identify and propagate ancient tree species without needing to see their fruit. This process involves:

Selecting one-year twigs from old trees
Ensuring genetic material is preserved
Replanting these varieties in new orchards

This project highlights the importance of sustainable agriculture practices in Belgium, ensuring that unique local varieties do not disappear.

If you care about preserving our agricultural history and supporting biodiversity, consider getting involved or learning more about this vital initiative. The future of Belgian orchards depends on it!