A Pastured Hazelnut Orchard at Quentin’s Farm

Quentin is developing with PlantC a pilot agroforestry model in Belgium: a grazed hazelnut orchard promoting biodiversity, animal welfare, and short supply chains. For this project, we are targeting 532 meters of hedge (four rows), representing approximately 260 plants to be planted.
Organic fruit production to recreate shelter, cover, and movement corridors for wildlife in the agricultural plains of Fosses.

PROJECT SUPPORTED BY

A PASTURED HAZELNUT ORCHARD AT QUENTIN’S FARM

Quentin Ledoux is the founder of Ferme du coin² in Fosses-La-Ville. On his family farm, he combines livestock farming and fruit arboriculture according to an environmentally friendly organic production model.

Quentin is a farmer of ducks, sheep, and cows, practicing organic and free-range farming. He offers quality food through short supply chains. In 2021, Quentin expanded his farm by an additional 1.4 hectares. The first thing he did: plant trees! That is why, in 2022, a first collaboration with PlantC allowed him to establish an orchard of 34 apple trees across 0.35 hectares.

Here, on 1 hectare, Quentin planted 4 rows of 65 hazelnut trees (260 hazelnut trees), on this land acquired a year ago, where no biodiversity elements currently exist. Arranged as a dense hedge, the hazelnut trees:

• Produce hazelnuts (for the production of hazelnut spreads for direct sale).
• Increase biodiversity and introduce an agroforestry element blocking the wind and providing shade for the animals.
• Provide a long-term production of wood and wood chips during pruning.
• Make the farm more diversified and resilient, as an old saying goes: “A year of scarcity, a year of hazelnuts”.

An added bonus, Quentin grazes his cattle in the hazelnut orchard. A true pilot project, probably a unique model currently in Belgium.

HAZELNUTS, COWS… AND LOCAL SPREAD!

Quentin sought advice from Agronuts, a young neighboring company founded in 2022 with the goal of supplying high-quality plants for productive orchards. Their collaboration is primarily based on the purchase of quality plants and mutual support. In the long term, Quentin will market his hazelnuts through short supply chains, via their processing unit currently under construction.

The Tonda Gentile delle Langhe: this variety is well-known in the Piedmont region of Italy, and its kernels are considered the best in the world by chocolatiers. The hazelnut size ranges from medium to large, with light and rounded kernels. The harvest period is early.

NEWS SINCE PLANTING

On May 28, 2023, the PlantC team visited the site to assess the orchard’s recovery. The recovery rate is over 80%. Eglantine and her friend are exercising: Quentin has implemented dynamic rotational grazing with his Galloway cows.

We were able to participate in the open farm day organized by Quentin and his partners. During this day, we were able to raise awareness and inform nearly 50 citizens about the plantings carried out by Quentin, in partnership with PlantC.

We also had the opportunity to produce a report with the Journal des Enfants! Discover the project video here! Quentin discusses short supply chains, his choice in the face of climate change, and the local hazelnut sector. Thank you, JDE!

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