Marc-André Hénin

Young dairy farmer of la Ferme

d’Esclaye in Pondrôme, Beauraing,

Namur, Walloon, Belgium

A family farm combining tradition and innovation

Located in Pondrôme (Beauraing), the Esclaye Farm has been run by the

Henin family since 1929. Today, the farm covers 110 hectares and has 160

cattle, mainly Holstein and Montbéliarde breeds. The fourth generation

marked a major turning point: in 2009, Marc-André Henin, an industrial

engineer, converted the farm to organic farming with the help of his father.

This decision, taken in the midst of the dairy crisis, marked the family’s

commitment to a sustainable and resilient production model.

In 2015, Jean-Philippe and Anne-Laure joined their brother and diversif ied

the product range by introducing hard cheeses. This diversif ication was

accompanied by a shift towards short supply chains, strengthening ties

with consumers and promoting products locally and ethically. Today,

the farm focuses on dairy production, meat production from cull cows

and their calves, and the cultivation of bread-making cereals for human

consumption.

« Combining group

calving and rearing

dairy calves under

their mothers.»

DELIVERING PUBLIC GOODS FROM DAIRY FARMS IN EUROPE

Towards an even more sustainable future

Looking ahead, Marc André Henin and his family are

planning for the farm’s sustainability through two major

investment projects.

First, with the construction of storage buildings, a project

that will allow them to focus on hay production rather than

wrapped bales, not to mention that covering the manure pit

Next, with the development of plots for cows, which will

optimise the use of grass from the meadows, thereby

Secondly, by developing plots for cows, which will optimise

the use of grass from the meadows, thereby improving

"

2023, the farm reduced its emissions by 45%, a progress

precisely measured using the DECiDE tool developed by

CRA-W."

Concrete actions in favour of sustainability

"At Ferme d’Esclaye, we take a comprehensive and

integrated approach to sustainability, going far beyond

simple isolated practices" explains Marc André. The Henin

family recently introduced calving groups, allowing births

to be concentrated within a specif ic period.

"This decision has enabled us to improve the welfare of our

cows and the quality of the f inished product, but also our

own quality of life, as it signif icantly reduces the workload."

At the same time, photovoltaic panels have been installed,

signif icantly reducing the farm’s carbon

footprint and enabling it to be

concrete measures have

been taken to enhance the

sustainability. For example,

90% of the cows’ feed now

consists of grass.

#Maintaining

biodiversity

#Carbon storage

under grasslands

Watch Marc-André’s interview

Sommaire Introduction 10 farmers case studies Expert’s interviews FAQ Conclusion