Permanent meadows and pastures under organic agriculture in Belgium have shown a steady increase over the last decade. As of 2023, this area stood at 67.01 thousand hectares. The growth rate has varied year-on-year, ranging from moderate increases between 2-5% in some years to more significant jumps over 5%, indicating strong interest and adoption of organic agricultural practices. Over the last two years, the year-on-year increase was 3.41% in 2023 and 5.13% in 2022. The 5-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for 2023 was 3.43%, reflecting solid annual growth in organic agriculture acreage.
Looking forward, the forecast indicates that by 2028, the area under organic agriculture will expand further, reaching an estimated 77.88 thousand hectares. The forecast 5-year CAGR of 2.39% suggests a continued but slightly decelerating growth rate, cumulating in a 12.53% increase over this period. This trend shows a consistent but measured shift towards organic practices in Belgium's agricultural sector.
Future trends to watch include advancements in organic farming technologies, government policies on agricultural sustainability, and potential shifts in consumer preferences towards organic products. These factors could influence the rate and extent to which organic agricultural acreage continues to expand in Belgium.
