The arable land area in Belgium has shown a mixed trajectory over the past decade, starting at 816.0 thousand hectares in 2013 and peaking at 865.64 thousand hectares in 2021. As of 2023, the arable land area stood at 863.13 thousand hectares. Over the last two years, a slight downward trend is visible with year-on-year variations of -0.15% in 2022 and -0.14% in 2023. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past five years is calculated to be 0.31%.
Looking forward, the forecast indicates a gradual decline in arable land, with a projected 5-year CAGR of -0.11% from 2024 to 2028. By 2028, the arable land area is expected to be 857.23 thousand hectares, translating into an overall forecasted decline of about 0.55%.
Future trends to watch for include:
- Impact of agricultural policies and land use regulations on arable land area.
- Technological advancements in agriculture that may influence land productivity and usage.
- Environmental and climate change factors that might affect land suitability for arable farming.
