The Center for Agrarian History wants to study, preserve and make accessible the history and heritage of agriculture, food and rural life, together with other interested parties.
It looks at tangible and intangible heritage in a national and international context and pays attention to the interaction between past, present and future.
Sheep herder with his flock, ca. 1950 - 1975. Collection Boerenbond, KADOC - KU Leuven.
The workfield of CAG is built around three pillars: heritage research, hub and public activities.
The Interfaculty Center for Agrarian History (ICAG) of the KU Leuven provides the necessary scientific support.
The agricultural heritage, or the heritage of agriculture, food and rural life in Flanders and Brussels is very rich, diverse and very valuable. It tells the story of social, cultural and economic developments in the countryside and in the city, in the agricultural sector and throughout the food chain. The heritage refers to the roots of the welfare society and to the DNA of today's diverse society.
Everyone, young and old, has a connection with agriculture and food, as well as with the rural environment. The primary sector was once the main employer. Today, agribusiness is the country's second most important economic player. Flanders and Brussels have a rich culinary tradition, which includes regional products and world-renowned flavours, as well as top gastronomy and traditional home-made recipes. The agricultural heritage is visible and tangible: from the landscape to the numerous traditions and customs.
Advertising card of the vegetable processing company Marie Thumas, located on the canal in Leuven, ca. 1913-1940. Leuven City Archives.
In other words, CAG's workfield is extensive, encompassing tangible and intangible, and movable and immovable heritage. Just think of old agricultural tools, cookbooks, the archives of rural organizations, literature, documentary films, oral testimonies, traditions and the living heritage with (regional) animal and plant varieties.
Agricultural heritage is cherished and kept alive by numerous, active heritage communities from Poperinge to Maaseik, by the managers of many public and private collections, and by professionals and volunteers within and outside the classical heritage sector. CAG wants to cherish and preserve this heritage, and not only the 'masterpieces', opening it all up in a creative way and preserving it for future generations.
The heritage of agriculture, food and rural life, in all its diversity, is ideally suited for cross-policy domain cooperation, for example with agriculture and fisheries, rural development, tourism, immovable heritage, education and gastronomy / hospitality.
In the workings of CAG, attention to quality and diversity, cooperation and participation, and research and experiment are central. As an active player in a dynamic heritage field, CAG wants to contribute to a caring and sustainable handling of the agricultural heritage, both among professional actors and volunteers.
A Fordson tractor in the courtyard of the square farm 'Groot Scheisingen' in Halle, 1952. Collection Den Ast-Regional Museum.
Do you want to know more about CAG? Don't hesitate to contact us.
