The data indicates that the arable and permanent cropland agricultural area in Belgium experienced a general upward trend from 2013 to 2023, peaking at 891.0 thousand hectares in 2020, before stabilizing at 884.0 thousand hectares from 2021 to 2024. This demonstrates an initial growth, with some fluctuations, followed by stabilization in recent years.
Examining the year-on-year variations, we notice significant increases in specific years such as 2015 (2.15%) and 2016 (2.22%), while decreases occurred in 2017 (-1.49%) and 2021 (-0.79%). The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over the past five years stands at a modest 0.16%.
Looking forward to the forecast period from 2024 to 2028, the data projects minimal growth, with the area expected to remain largely unchanged, reflecting a forecasted five-year CAGR of 0.01%.
Future trends to watch for:
- The potential impact of climate change and policy changes on agricultural practices.
- Technological advancements and their adoption by Belgian farmers, possibly optimizing land use efficiency.
- Shifts in European Union agricultural policies and subsidies that might affect land use.
- Market dynamics, including demand for different crops, which might drive changes in land allocation.