The initiator of CIAGO is the Province of Limburg, initiated by the provincial and inter-provincial analysis of the agribusiness complex (in short ABC).
This study shows that the primary sector (fruit, crop farming, vegetables, cattle breeding) and, by extension, the agribusiness complex (ABC) is an important pillar in the Limburg economy. However, while 60% of the Flemish fruit production is located in the Limburg Haspengouw region, we also find that Limburg's share (as a province) on the Flemish level in the fruit & vegetables processing is only 14%. (Source: Turnover of ABC companies processing fruit and vegetables - National Bank of Belgium - provinces.incijfers.beStatbel - provinces.incijfers.be - figures 2017).
"With CIAGO, the Province of Limburg has the explicit ambition to create economic added value on the primary production present and to strengthen the Limburg entrepreneurial spirit by connecting primary production with activities from other sectors."
Inge Moors, Deputy for Agriculture, Province of Limburg
CIAGO wants to create new economic value for agriculture, Food and Foodtech in Limburg through:
Fully complementary to existing structures and expertise, CIAGO wants to facilitate as much as possible the path from companies to existing knowledge centres and other actors with the aim of increasing innovation and initiatives with an economically tangible follow-up. This role is facilitating and is currently not fulfilled by any existing player in the Flanders region.
CIAGO puts its knowledge and expertise at the service of both aspiring entrepreneurs and existing companies active in the Limburg Food & Foodtech industry. These are also our basic conditions for cooperation. As a result, we do not support food retail businesses, very small-scale or private initiatives or projects that are not Food, Foodtech or terroir-related.
We provide advice or solid project support in the following areas:
In itself, the term 'Food' is fairly clear, and in this case it is a broad concept that also includes beverages. Examples of 'Food' are quality products from Limburg that can be marketed in the local, short food supply chain, nationally to retail and food service, and also internationally.
But what is Foodtech? First, we recognise the fusion of 'food' and 'tech'. It is the disruption of the Food Ecosystem by technology through sensors, data, new behavioural patterns, new food products, e-commerce algorithms, health ... This ecosystem is the entire food value chain, from farm to fork to the waste bin, and everything in between - from production, transport and storage, processing, marketing, distribution, consumption to final disposal.
The Foodtech domain can be divided into 8 categories of the food supply chain that together cover more than 150 different types of technology:
The new Food ecosystem will be based on science, data, innovation and technology and will shift the overall power in the food sector from traditional food production processes to the added layers of data and services.
Services and technologies that aim to increase agricultural efficiency and sustainability, including the use of field sensors, drones, farm management software, automated machinery or water & fertiliser management solutions.
This category also includes new farming techniques such as vertical farming, aquaculture and insect cultivation.
Apps and services that facilitate access to food and the information behind it. Examples are:
On-demand direct-to-consumer (D2C) food delivery services. This category includes delivery of:
Products or services that use innovative techniques to process food or improve the functionality of food ingredients. For example:
Technology driven solutions to
This category also includes
Smart kitchen appliances for consumers, but also smart appliances or technologies that help restaurants manage their business more efficiently. This category includes hardware and software to make professional kitchens smarter through IoT (Internet of Things) technology:
Solutions and processes that use science and technology to create new types of food and drinks.
This category includes:
Products and solutions that help reduce food waste. For example, consumer-oriented apps that:
This category also includes
Services and technologies that aim to increase agricultural efficiency and sustainability, including the use of field sensors, drones, farm management software, automated machinery or water & fertiliser management solutions.
This category also includes new farming techniques such as vertical farming, aquaculture and insect cultivation.
Apps and services that facilitate access to food and the information behind it. Examples are:
On-demand direct-to-consumer (D2C) food delivery services. This category includes delivery of:
Products or services that use innovative techniques to process food or improve the functionality of food ingredients. For example:
Technology driven solutions to
This category also includes
Smart kitchen appliances for consumers, but also smart appliances or technologies that help restaurants manage their business more efficiently. This category includes hardware and software to make professional kitchens smarter through IoT (Internet of Things) technology:
Solutions and processes that use science and technology to create new types of food and drinks.
This category includes:
Products and solutions that help reduce food waste. For example, consumer-oriented apps that:
This category also includes
By combining your own knowledge as an (aspiring) entrepreneur, the expertise of CIAGO and our network of external partners, you enjoy a synergetic effect that can really take your idea to the next level.
As a start-up or entrepreneur, it sounds very familiar. Very often, you do not have the time to be bothered with a million things. It is precisely this time that is often crucial to the success of your project because you need to be able to react quickly in order to meet necessary deadlines.
In our region, we have the luxury of having a very wide range of knowledge institutions and research and test centres that can contribute with the right know-how and technology to bring your product to the next level. In reality, however, few entrepreneurs find their way to these partners, or do not find the time to follow up on the research and adjust where necessary.
So to speak your 'one-stop shop'. On the one hand, we are the link between entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions and centres through our process guidance. On the other hand, you can count on our advice and expertise from business development to innovation, from idea to market launch. Our team consists of people with a passion for the industry, who have huddled through their own storms and who, like you, know what it is to hit a wall and who are familiar with the trial and error process. Because that too is an aspect of entrepreneurship.
In addition, CIAGO has an annual budget that will be allocated to the specific research & development projects that have a clearly demonstrable potential.
CIAGO is housed in and is a division of ‘Proefcentrum Fruitteelt vzw’ (abbreviated to ‘pcfruit’) in Sint-Truiden, a recognised scientific research centre for the fruit cultivation sector in Flanders with a strong national and international reputation in its field.
Thanks to this accommodation at pcfruit, CIAGO can make use of the existing facilities such as the reception area, the meeting rooms and other administrative services - allowing it to devote itself exclusively to supporting the companies.
CIAGO is thus not only at the service of fruit farming, but of all fields in the food industry, including beverages.
Address: Fruittuinweg 1, B-3800 Sint-Truiden
