Belgium Has Lost Half Its Farms in Less Than 30 Years

Belgium has lost half of its farms in under three decades, according to new data released by Statbel, the national statistical office, at the opening of the Libramont Agricultural Fair on July 23, 2026. The country counted just 33,307 agricultural operations in 2025 — down from more than 67,000 in 1997, a 50% decline that raises urgent questions about food sovereignty, rural employment, and the future of family farming.

A Structural Transformation

The decline is not a sudden shock but the culmination of a long-term trend. As RTBF reports, the number of farms has eroded steadily year after year, driven by mechanization, economies of scale, and market pressures that have made small operations increasingly unviable.

“Le nombre de fermes en Belgique ne cesse de s’éroder d’année en année,” the broadcaster noted, citing a trend that has been underway for decades. The year-over-year decline from 2024 to 2025 was 2%, consistent with the gradual but relentless pace of consolidation.

While the number of farms has plummeted, the total agricultural land area has remained relatively stable at 1.343 million hectares in 2025, down only slightly from 1.418 million hectares in 1980. The result is dramatic consolidation: the average farm size has more than tripled over the same period, growing from 12.5 hectares in 1980 to 40.3 hectares in 2025, according to Statbel. About one-third of the agricultural area is now dedicated to permanent pastures.

Regional Divide

The data reveals a sharp contrast between Belgium’s two main regions. Flanders counted 21,069 farms in 2025, while Wallonia had 12,161 — each seeing a 2% year-over-year decline. Brussels, by comparison, had just 77 agricultural operations.

As RTL Info notes, farms in Wallonia are on average twice as large as those in Flanders — 59.7 hectares versus 29.1 hectares — reflecting the different agricultural traditions of the two regions. Walloon farms focus primarily on cattle farming on expansive grasslands, while Flemish agriculture is more intensive, with poultry and pig herds concentrated in the north.

One in two farms across the country is active in livestock farming, according to Statbel. The livestock sector itself is undergoing significant shifts: the national cattle herd shrank by 1.2% in 2025, while the pig population declined by 2.7%. Poultry numbers, however, rose by 1.7%, reflecting changing market dynamics and consumer demand.

An Aging Workforce

Perhaps the most worrying trend for the sector’s future is the age profile of its farmers. Data from 2023 shows that 57% of farm operators in Belgium are aged 55 or older, while only 7% are under 35. This demographic imbalance, highlighted by 7sur7, points to a severe succession crisis looming over Belgian agriculture.

As older farmers retire, many farms simply close when no successor is found. With such a small proportion of young farmers entering the profession, the pace of farm closures is likely to accelerate in the coming decade. The Walloon regional government has already identified this as a critical issue, with data from the État de l’Agriculture Wallonne tracking the generational renewal challenge.

Drivers of Decline

The forces behind this transformation are multiple and interconnected. Technological advances have made larger operations more efficient, while the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy has historically favored larger farms through subsidy structures, though recent reforms have attempted to rebalance support toward smaller and medium-sized operations.

Global competition and pressure from supermarket supply chains have squeezed profit margins, particularly for small family farms. Meanwhile, land prices have risen, making it increasingly difficult for new entrants to acquire the acreage needed for a viable operation. The result is a self-reinforcing cycle: as farms disappear, the remaining ones grow larger, and the barriers to entry for new farmers become higher still.

Implications for Food Sovereignty

The concentration of agricultural production in fewer, larger hands raises concerns about supply chain resilience and food sovereignty. With half the farms gone in 30 years, Belgium’s agricultural output is increasingly dependent on a shrinking number of operators. Rural employment has also suffered, accelerating depopulation in agricultural areas, particularly in Wallonia.

DHnet notes that the data was released at the Libramont Agricultural Fair, Europe’s largest open-air agricultural event, ensuring maximum visibility among the farming community. The timing is significant: Belgian farmers have been active in European-wide protests against EU agricultural policies, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform and trade agreements. In December 2025, farmers protested in Brussels against CAP reforms and trade deals, reflecting deep unease across the sector.

The environmental dimension adds another layer of complexity. The EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy and Green Deal objectives — including reduced pesticide use and enhanced biodiversity — may be harder to achieve with fewer, larger operations. At the same time, larger farms may have greater capacity to invest in sustainable technologies.

What’s Next

The structural transformation of Belgian agriculture shows no signs of slowing. The data release at Libramont comes alongside other pressing agricultural news: drought threatens harvests across Belgium, Flanders is grappling with an export collapse that has left 800,000 tons of potatoes unsold, and rural Wallonia faces a veterinarian shortage that the government has addressed with a €680,000 investment.

Key policy questions remain unanswered. How will the Belgian government — the Arizona coalition — address the farm succession crisis? What role can the EU’s CAP strategic plan (2023-2027) play in supporting small and medium farms? And can diversification — agritourism, short supply chains, and niche production — offer viable alternatives for the next generation of farmers?

For now, the numbers paint a stark picture. Belgium’s farming landscape has been reshaped beyond recognition in a single generation, and the decisions made today will determine whether the country can preserve a viable agricultural sector for the decades to come.