Poperinge calls for public help to protect local hop crops

The city of Poperinge has issued a call to residents and visitors to help identify male hop plants in the surrounding area. The presence of male plants poses a threat to the quality and commercial value of the local hop harvest.

Male plants can spread pollen via the wind, which pollinates female plants and causes them to produce seeds. In many hop varieties, seed formation is undesirable as it negatively impacts the crop's quality. Because male plants can grow in various locations, such as private gardens, hedges, and roadsides, the city is requesting that hikers, cyclists, and nature enthusiasts remain alert and report any suspicious plants to the municipal agricultural service.