In 2016, Belgium reported a total of 1,923 organic farm units. This is an increase of 12% compared to the previous year. This is according to figures published on Monday by the FPS Economy.
More than three-quarters of these organic farms are located in Wallonia. Within the region, their number increased by nearly 11% last year, reaching a total of 1,493 farms. Comparatively in Flanders, their number went from 370 in 2015 to 430 last year (up by 16%).
The total area of organic farms expanded in 2016 to 78,249 hectares in Belgium, an increase of 13.8% compared to 2015.
The number of cattle (88,682, an increase of 10.5%) and pigs (11,485 and an increase of 11.8%) in the sector is also growing, as is the number of poultry (at more than 2.7 million amounting to an increase of 14.2%).
The Brussels Times
