Walloon Minister Dalcq Sets Agenda to Save Farms and Forests

Walloon Agriculture Minister Anne-Catherine Dalcq delivered a stark warning from the 90th Libramont Agricultural Fair on Friday: with half of Belgium’s farmers over the age of 55, the next two decades will bring a seismic shift in the country’s agricultural landscape. In a live interview on RTBF’s “Matin Première,” the minister outlined her priorities for generational renewal, climate adaptation, and trade policy as the sector confronts its deepest structural crisis in decades.

A Demographic Time Bomb

Belgium has lost half its farms in three decades, declining from over 67,000 agricultural holdings in 1997 to just 33,307 in 2025, according to Statbel. The consolidation trend has accelerated, particularly in Wallonia’s Ardennes region where cattle farming dominates, while Flanders has developed more intensive production systems.

Dalcq — a doctor in agronomic sciences from Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, a farmer who took over her family farm in Saint-Jean-Geest in 2023, and a former vice-president of the Federation of Young Farmers (FJA) — brings rare firsthand credibility to the role. Appointed on July 15, 2024, in the Dolimont Government, she was a prominent figure in the 2023-2024 farmers’ protests, as detailed in her biography.

Generational Renewal: The Defining Challenge

The minister identified generational renewal as the most pressing issue facing the sector. “The issue of generational renewal is capital, notably through access to land which conditions the ability to take over a farm,” Dalcq said in the RTBF interview.

The numbers paint a dire picture: 50% of Belgian farmers are over 55, and only 20% of those are certain they have a successor. An estimated 8,000 farms in Wallonia will need to be transferred in the next 10-15 years. “50% of farmers over 55 means that within twenty years, there will be a big change. Many farms will change hands,” Dalcq warned. “And it’s today that we must fight to keep human-scale agriculture.”

To address this, the minister is pursuing multiple strategies: reforming agricultural leases (“bail à ferme”) to make them more attractive, facilitating non-family farm transfers, and maintaining CAP subsidies for retired farmers who partner with young entrants. Working groups are expected to deliver their conclusions by the end of the year.

Climate Adaptation and the Agricultural Calamities Fund

Climate change is already reshaping farming conditions in Belgium. Dalcq emphasized a dual approach: reforming the Agricultural Calamities Fund to make it faster and simpler to activate — noting it is now triggered much more frequently — and adapting agricultural practices through research at the Walloon Agronomic Research Centre on new crop varieties and drought-resistant techniques.

“We must prepare different tree species to hold firm against climate change,” she said, linking forest management to agricultural resilience. The minister also acknowledged the impact of geopolitical crises, noting that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up fertilizer prices, adding to farmers’ cost pressures.

Trade Policy: Mercosur vs. CETA

Dalcq drew a sharp distinction between two major EU trade agreements. She strongly opposes the Mercosur deal with South American nations, arguing it threatens the sugar sector in the short term and beef cattle in the medium term due to different production standards and import quotas. “We must always remain on guard because we have lost strategic autonomy in defense and energy,” she said. “We must not make the same mistake with food.”

In contrast, she supports the CETA agreement with Canada, noting that Canadian beef imports did not materialize as feared while European cheese and expertise found export markets. “I am not against free trade agreements,” she clarified. “I am against unbalanced free trade agreements.”

Forest Management and Consumer Labeling

The minister addressed concerns about the DNF (Nature and Forest Division), denying claims of dismantling. She acknowledged staffing shortages in field services — noting a 10% overall increase in her administration but a 1% decrease in DNF — attributing this to the previous Ecolo-led government. She committed to new recruitments in field services starting September 2026.

On consumer protection, Dalcq is developing a simplified label that highlights locally-produced, fairly-priced food. “It’s not an additional label, it’s a label that highlights all the labels that pay well and are local,” she explained. “The consumer is often lost; here they will have a clear indication.”

What’s Next

The 90th Libramont Agricultural Fair, running from July 24-27, 2026, attracts over 215,000 visitors and 700 exhibitors, making it the largest open-air agricultural fair in Europe. As Dalcq engages with farmers on the ground, the coming months will be critical for advancing lease reform, implementing DNF staffing commitments, and navigating Wallonia’s position on EU trade negotiations. The generational renewal challenge — with half of farmers set to retire within two decades — remains the defining test of her tenure.