Membership

Why become a member of Flanders’ FOOD?

As a member of Flanders’ FOOD, you strengthen your company’s innovation capacity and gain access to a wide range of support, expertise, and networking opportunities:

1. Access to projects and support with applications
   Participate in various Flanders’ FOOD projects (collective, cooperative, strategic, and practice-oriented) and receive guidance for your own project applications, increasing your chances of success with the Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO).
2. Tailored scientific and technological advice
   Receive personalized advice for content-related questions and get connected to an extensive network of companies, research institutions, and partners via the vraag@team.
3. Comprehensive support for research projects
   From A to Z: support for the initiation, execution, and valorization of research results within your business context.
4. Exclusive and discounted activities
   Enjoy study days, training sessions, and workshops at member rates (up to 50% discount), and take part in exclusive member events such as CEO lunches, roundtable discussions with peers, and international missions.
5. Network expansion and visibility
   Meet other members at annual networking events exclusive to members (included in the membership) and special guests, and increase your visibility in the sector through participation in projects, publications, events, and Flanders’ FOOD communication channels.
6. Discounted use of tools and services
   Benefit from discounted use of tools such as Cropexplore and the Food Safety Climate Benchmarking, and receive discounts on pilot trials and individual services (e.g., FOF-Scan).

Apply for membership  

Become a member

The size of your business is determined annually by employment and independence rate. To determine the size of your business, we also consider the shareholder structure at a group level (EU SME definition is an independent company with less than 250 employees and an annual turnover of maximum €50 million or a maximum balance sheet total of €43 million). Membership is charged per country that makes use of our services, all branches, with similar activities in that country automatically become members of Flanders' FOOD.  

Depending on the calculated size of your company, your annual membership fee will be (without VAT):

*From the month of July we calculate the fee of new members pro-rata

Membership conditions  

1. Every Flanders’ FOOD member endorses the vision and mission of Flanders’ FOOD and agrees to the terms and conditions by submitting the membership registration form.
2. Membership is valid for one calendar year (January-December). For memberships in the framework of a project, the membership fee must be paid for the entire project period, even if the project has already begun.
3. For membership without project participation, Flanders’ FOOD will, depending on the time of joining, calculate the membership fee pro rata starting from 1st of July.
4. Calculation of the membership fee is based on the decisions taken by the board of directors and the General Meeting of Flanders’ FOOD. The size of your business is determined by your employment and independence rate. To determine the size of your business, we also consider the shareholder structure.
5. Membership cancellation must be requested in writing before the end of January, by sending an e-mail to inge.arents@flandersfood.com. After January, membership will automatically be renewed for one year and the membership fee must be paid.
6. Flanders' FOOD does not store personal data longer than necessary for the purpose for which the data was provided. The data you provide us can be shared with third parties if it is necessary for the functioning of Flanders' FOOD in the framework of legitimate interests (e.g. reporting to grant authorities). You have the right to inspect, copy, correct, complete and delete your data when it is no longer required for the purpose for which it was provided.
7. The member agrees to make no legal or other claims against Flanders' FOOD related to services or projects.