A story of the only saffron farm in Belgium

Halfway between Brussels and Liège, not far from the city of Namur, There is only professional saffron farm in Belgium, called “Le Safran de Cotchia“. The idea of cultivating saffron in Belgium was a gamble of Eric Léonard and his wife, motivated partly by a need to “go back to basics” by working the land. But the farm’s history did not begin with the cultivation of this coveted flower, known as red gold. It is the current chapter of a life in which entrepreneurship and love for the land have always been closely linked.

An entrepreneurial spirit

It all began in 1985, when Eric Leonard and his brother took over their father’s farm, which covered approximately 145 hectares. “At the time, we were growing traditional crops, such as beets and corn. The first CAP reform quickly led us to set part of our fields aside. My brother and I decided to continue to cultivate our land, even if it prevented us from having access to the premiums. That’s when the farm experienced its first diversification, because on those 25 hectares set aside for fallow, we decided to plant blackcurrant. Many people considered us crazy at the time. However, it was a successful gamble, until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which drastically reduced prices. From 40 Belgian Francs per kilo, we then went down to 4 Belgian Francs. It was our first big blow,” says Eric Léonard.

After that, the producer decided to embark on a completely different project: to create the first on-farm butchery in Belgium. “At the time, I met my wife, who was trained as a butcher and caterer. Soon, our business grew. We had employees and the butchery was a great success. However, after 19 years of that, we wanted a change and to go back to the land, which we were missing more and more. It was after watching a program about a saffron farm in France that 3 days later, we went there to learn more about it. Afterwards, we brought 1,500 bulbs back to our farm. Although this first attempt was only moderately good, we decided to give up the butcher’s shop to start growing saffron in 2009. Once again, we may have been considered fools.”

Saffron: a sustainable crop with 100% manual labor

The first year, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard brought 150,000 bulbs back to their farm. 11 years later, they were cultivating about 600,000 of them on 2.8 hectares. “The bulbs are normally planted in August. They then flower in October/November. Currently, we are at the end of the flowering period. The leaves then come out and are dried out in April/May. Then, the bulb is multiplied for another flowering in October. In order to prevent the development of diseases, we recommend replanting the bulbs every 3-4 years.”

Saffron does not require any phytosanitary products: “If the soil is sufficiently balanced, there is no need to add inputs. As far as insecticides are concerned, saffron is currently free of pests. We cannot use herbicides, as they would take a toll on the development of the flower. The weeding is first done through thermal burns, and now we are moving on to mechanical weeding. It is important to know that in a saffron farm, everything is done manually or mechanically. Although the ideal soil for the crop is an aerated one with limestone that is easily irrigated, we cultivate the flower on a very heavy, very wet and silty soil, so we can say that saffron adapts to any soil. And we have achieved this by adapting the cultivation techniques to the conditions of the Belgian soil.”

Saffron in Belgium: a product with a still underdeveloped market

Although saffron products have now found their market, Eric Léonard has had to redouble his efforts and bet on innovation to develop his clientele. “Unlike other crops, there is no saffron sector. Saffron growers will therefore have to develop their own customer portfolios. And to do that, in addition to being a good producer, you have to be a good salesperson. Although most of our customers today are renowned chefs and bistros, we had to introduce saffron in Belgium, which was not really known by professionals at the time. It took a huge effort.”

“Moreover, it is difficult to make a living from saffron production alone, so we diversified with the development of a range of derived products such as jams and mustard, as saffron is a formidable flavor enhancer.

Mr. and Mrs. Léonard also seek to promote the use of saffron in the paramedical sector. “Saffron is a very good relaxant. Personally, I use it to help me sleep and it is very effective.

A year complicated by the consequences of the health crisis

Besides selling its products in Belgium and exporting bulbs, the company also makes some income by offering visits to the saffron farm. “Normally, the equivalent of 2 coaches per week visit the saffron farm. Due to Covid-19, we have barely had 2 or 3 coaches since the beginning of the year. This represents a significant loss of turnover. The closure of restaurants for 3 months in Belgium has also caused us to lose 22% of our turnover. Moreover, we fear that the situation will affect us even more during the holiday season, as a large share of our sales is usually carried out in Christmas markets. In order to cut costs, we have started producing on a day-to-day basis, adapting to the demand.

Belgian and French saffron: very different from Moroccan and Iranian saffron


Although saffron cultivation does not originate in France and Belgium, these origins have everything needed to appeal to professionals and consumers. “Belgian or French saffron is very different from Iranian or Moroccan saffron. On our farms, the flower’s pistils are much longer and thicker. It takes about 150 flowers to obtain 1g of saffron in Belgium/France, while 250-300 are needed in Iran and Morocco (Amata: This information is incorrect). Iranian and Moroccan saffron is spicier, more piquant, while Belgian and French saffron has much more aroma.

The French and Belgian production can be sold for about 34,000 Euro per kilo, or 34 Euro per gram. “The production from southern countries is sold at much lower prices, since the labor force is often family-based and therefore cheaper, and this is a major competitive factor.”

Eric Léonard is also investing a lot in educating and raising the awareness of professionals and individuals about saffron cultivation. “On the market, 80% of saffron is fraudulent. There is a lot of fake saffron in circulation and we explain how to avoid being cheated. A simple little test is to take a pistil between your fingers, wet it and then roll it. If your fingers turn yellow, it is indeed saffron!”

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For more information:
Eric Léonard
Le Safran de Cotchia 
26, rue de la Waloppe,
4219 Wasseiges, Belgium
Tél. : +32 496 54 54 41

Source: fresh Plaza

The price of saffron will be increased by 100%

These days, the issue of saffron pricing is hot in Iran. With the start of the new saffron harvest season, the issue of determining the price of saffron has received too much attention. The problems and concerns of farmers in the last one or two years have caused the members of the Iranian Parliament, the Saffron Union and the National Saffron Council to intervene in pricing. In the recent meeting of these representatives, the price of saffron for the new season was determined as follows:

Read more

How is the market saffron in Africa?

Saffron is a spice derived from the extraction of the stigmas of the crocus sativus or autumn crocus flower. Once harvested, it is dried and utilized either as a dye or coloring agent for food and other products, or as a spice to add flavor to dishes. Saffron is one of the most expensive spices across the globe and has a wide application scope across myriad industries such as food & beverage and pharmaceuticals, among others.

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What is the situation of Iranian saffron exports?

TEHRAN- Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) will hold the meeting of the National Saffron Export Desk this week, a senior official in the organization announced.

According to Mahmoud Bazari, the director-general of TPO’s Export Coordination Office for agro crops and processing industry products, the mentioned meeting is aimed at investigating the ways for the promotion of saffron exports and releasing the reports on the subject by related organizations including Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), Iran Chamber of Cooperatives (ICC), and National Saffron Council, TPO’s Public Relations Department reported on Sunday.

TPO has recently set up a special task force on the trade of saffron.

Underlining the significance of saffron in Iran’s exports, Hamid Zadboum, the head of TPO, has said that his organization has had supporting the exports of this product through offering different incentives a top agenda of its activities since the Iranian calendar year 1380 (March 2001- March 2002).

About 85 percent to 90 percent of Iran’s saffron is produced in the northeastern provinces of North Khorasan and Khorasan Razavi and the eastern province of South Khorasan.

Based on the data released by Iranian Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, Iran earns some $500 million annually by exporting medicinal herbs, of which about $350 million is related to saffron and the rest is the share of other medicinal herbs.

Source: Tehran Times

Forecast the future of saffron market

Saffron is a spice famously known as costliest spice in the world is the bright red color stigma obtained from a flower. Demand for saffron is high as it contains antioxidants such as zeaxanthin, lycopene, a- and ß-carotenes that protect humans from stress, cancers, infections, and also act as immune modulators. In addition it has many therapeutic applications which has increased its demand in the pharmaceutical industry. These properties of saffron are expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.

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News: Treatment of respiratory disease with saffron

These days, medicinal plants have received more attention than chemical drugs due to their lesser side effects. Saffron is one of these medicinal plants. Saffron has countless properties, In addition to seasoning and flavoring saffron, its medicinal properties can also be used a lot.

The effect of saffron on respiratory diseases

Saffron is used to treat many disorders and diseases of the body such as vision. Respiratory diseases such as asthma are also one of the cases that saffron improves.

Asthma is a respiratory disease that causes multiple respiratory attacks, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, especially in the early days and midnight. One of the substances that is effective in reducing asthma is the consumption of substances containing antioxidants. Recent research has shown that increasing the use of antioxidants is very effective in reducing the effects of asthma.

Saffron stigma as one of the known foods has many elements. A lot of studies have been performed to identify various compounds of saffron and so far about 150 active compounds have been identified in saffron, the most important of which are crocin, picrocrocin and safranal; These studies have also shown that saffron is rich in antioxidants and riboflavin. In fact, saffron is a sedative and analgesic. Saffron increases oxygen delivery to various tissues of the body and is therefore anti-inflammatory and relieves cough.

How much is Saffron market size?

One of the important reasons that makes saffron more expensive is its scarcity. Because the supply of goods affects its price and the supply of saffron is limited. All of saffron is almost produce in IRAN near 450 tons per year.  In this article, we want to show you how big the saffron market is and what effect it has on your marketing and sales.

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How much is bulk price of saffron?

Among a variety of spices from the different world regions, saffron price is known as highest ones.  We wrote here about saffron retail price. Now I am going to share with you about  saffron bulk price. Since Iran is the main supplier of saffron in the world and most of the saffron in the world markets belongs to Iran, It is advice to buy saffron from Iran and the main saffron companies directly like Amata trade instead of intermarries.

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How hot is the price of saffron?

These days that summer begins, the the price of saffron in Iran is hot. Due to the comments of two officials (Rural Cooperative Organization manager and a Member of Parliament) who want to increase the price of saffron in the domestic market. They have prepared and are running programs for achieving this Goal. What do you think? Does saffron price increase?

Frist thing, we should always remember is the effect of exchange rate. Officially, we have 3 exchanges rate for USD in IRAN. All of Iranian Company Must give 50% of their export USD to Nima system, 20 % to Importer companies, 30% to free market from these year (1399). If they do not, they will face heavy fines.
Each one has different Exchange rate. The exchange rate in Nima System is almost 30% below Free market!! It is possible to negotiate with importer companies but the exchange rate usually is 5% below market and the exchange rate in free market is set at 10:30 o’clock every morning. Each one has different Exchange rate. Based on this, the average exchange rate is 18,500 for July 06.

There is 2 market for Saffron in Iran that effect Each Other: Domestic Market & Future saffron exchange Market. Price in Future saffron exchange Market is more than Domestic Market most of time. Pls note that we discuss the price based on Negin Saffron because it accepted as Base in two markets.

Because of the comments of the officials, the price of saffron increased in Future saffron Exchange market in November. People are going to buy saffron and selling in exchange market because of price gap (near 897 – 681 =216 USD per kg).

We should remember, there is rule in exchange market; The closer we get to delivery time, the lower the price. It is very difficult to predict the saffron price in domestic market on November from now. The exchange Rate has big effect on saffron price in November. If exchange rate increase, It means devaluing Iran’s currency and It will reduce the effect of increasing of saffron price on export prices. If the exchange rate is constant (It is impossible), we will have increase in price.

 

New Update 06 August 2020

The new changes include two sections:

1- The saffron exporter should return 80% of export currency to government  unlike previous months!! It means they earn income less than before. It should effect saffron price but not too much. As you see We have a price reduction in two market.

 

2- In addition to the above factors there is a very important factor that effects saffron price. It is basic export rate of saffron. In the past, saffron exporter should declare 1200 USD per kg to government. it did not important that export price was less than it. the government considered 1200 as a base, then we as a exporter should buy from free market and delivered to government with lees price. This causes additional costs to be, but in August 2020, the government corrected the base price and came close to the market price.

New Update 06 September 2020

The market was quiet last month. Not many impressive things happened. The only thing that happened was the increase of saffron price in the futures market. That was to be expected.

 

New Update 05 October 2020

During the last month, three events affected the price of saffron in Iran that decrease saffron price in USD:

  1. The depreciation of Iran’s currency against the U.S. dollar
  2. Increasing the dollar rate in the Nimai system ( Increase in the purchase price of the dollar by the Iranian government from exporters).
  3. The beginning of a new saffron season.

But another important event happened, which will probably increase the price of saffron by 20% during the next month. read more  The price of saffron will be increased by 100% .

 

New Update 07 November 2020

At this time, we are in middle of  saffron new season. More than 50% of saffron flowers are harvested. The price are almost stable but it needs time to become clearly stable. two events have most effect on saffron price:

1- US Presidential Election: It has caused drastic changes in currency fluctuations.

2- Rural Cooperative Organization Intervention: They intend to determine the price floor of saffron. The goal is to increase the price by at least 50% compared to the previous year.

At the end,

As you can see, the two domestic and futures market prices are almost close together. We predict that the price of Negin saffron in different qualities for the new season will be between  600 to  670 USD per kg. Now, we should wait and see what happens in new season.