Walloons Lead Belgium in Organic Food Consumption, New Study Shows

Walloons are Belgium’s most committed organic food consumers, spending €147 per capita on organic products in 2025 — well above the national average of €116.60, according to a new study published by Biowallonie and the Walloon Agency for the Promotion of Quality Agriculture (APAQ-W). The data reveals a striking paradox: while consumer demand for organic food continues to grow, organic production in Wallonia has declined for the third consecutive year.

A Region Outpacing the National Average

Wallonia accounted for 39.9% of Belgium’s total organic food spending — €539 million out of a national total of €1.35 billion — despite having only 31.3% of the country’s population. The region’s organic market share stands at 5.6%, significantly higher than the Belgian average of 4.4%. Brussels residents also showed strong organic engagement, spending €140.40 per capita, though this represented a decline of €6.60 from the previous year.

According to La Libre Belgique, analysts Julien Capozziello and Catherine Timmermans of APAQ-W noted: “Walloons remain proportionally the biggest buyers of organic food products.” Nearly every Walloon household — 98.3% — purchased at least one organic product in 2025, signaling that organic food has moved from a niche market to a mainstream phenomenon.

What Walloons Buy Most

The most popular organic products purchased by the average Walloon in 2025 include 11 eggs, 1.3 liters of milk, and 1.2 kg of potatoes. Meat substitutes, fresh vegetables, bread, and fruits round out the top categories. Supermarkets remain the primary distribution channel, accounting for 40.8% of organic sales, followed by specialty organic stores at 20.1%. Short supply chains and direct sales are gaining ground, particularly in Wallonia.

The Production Paradox

While consumption is rising — total spending grew 3% year-over-year — organic production in Wallonia is shrinking. As of December 31, 2025, the region counted 1,910 organic farms, a loss of 87 farms (-4.4%) compared to 2024. The organic agricultural area fell by 2,500 hectares to 88,025 hectares (-2.8%). Organic production now represents 12.1% of Wallonia’s agricultural land and 15.2% of its farms.

L’Avenir reported that the Union of Organic Farmers (UNAB) has called for a comprehensive government strategy, warning that the sector is losing ground. Currently, only 22 of Wallonia’s 262 municipalities have reached the 30% organic agricultural land target set in the region’s 2021 organic plan — a target that now appears increasingly ambitious.

Philippe Mattart, Director General of APAQ-W, offered a measured perspective in an interview with Trends-Tendances: “I’m not going to say the organic market is doing well, because I’m afraid of being too optimistic, especially for producers. But we have to recognize that organic growth is a long-term trend that is rather positive.” He added that producers, retailers, and processors who would not have been profitable 30 years ago are now viable because the market exists.

Regional Divide: Wallonia vs. Flanders

The contrast between Belgium’s two main regions is stark. Wallonia concentrates nearly 76% of the country’s organic farms and dedicates 12.1% of its agricultural land to organic production. In Flanders, only about 1.6% of agricultural land is organic. The annual organic spending per capita tells a similar story: €147 in Wallonia compared to €109 for the Belgian average. This gap reflects distinct regional policies, Flanders’ more intensive agricultural model, and a more engaged food culture in Wallonia.

A Sector at a Crossroads

Despite the production decline, Wallonia remains above the European average of 11.1% of agricultural land in organic production. The organic sector has more than quadrupled since 2005, and the long-term trajectory remains positive.

Several factors explain the current production decline: farmers retiring without successors, some producers returning to conventional agriculture (“déconversions”), economic pressure following the post-COVID organic boom, and regulatory concerns. La Libre Belgique reported that the production decline is driven by both retirements and farmers choosing to revert to conventional methods.

Production Breakdown

Organic farming in Wallonia is heavily oriented toward food crops. Among crops, 39% of fruits are organic — including 88% of walnut and hazelnut trees, 56% of vineyards, and 29% of fruit orchards — alongside 19% of pastures and 14% of vegetables. In livestock, 26% of laying hens, 12% of beef cattle, and 10% of dairy cows are raised organically.

What to Watch

The 21st edition of “Semaine bio” (Organic Week), running from June 6 to 14, 2026, will be a key moment for the sector to promote organic products and address the production-consumption gap. Meanwhile, a proposal to introduce a “Bio-chèque” — replacing the existing Eco-chèques system — could further stimulate demand if adopted.

As Wallonia’s organic market matures, the central question remains: can the region’s strong consumer demand be matched by a revival of local organic production, or will an increasing share of organic food be sourced from outside the region? The UNAB’s call for a government strategy suggests that without policy intervention, the gap between what Walloons want to buy and what local farmers can supply may continue to widen.