Forecasts suggest that within the next five years, the pig population in Flanders could shrink by 16–23% compared to 2024. Experts believe this trend will lead to further consolidation in the industry, with average farm sizes increasing—continuing the ongoing upscaling of pig production in the region.
Currently, the lion’s share of Belgium’s pig farming is concentrated in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of the country. In contrast, relatively few pigs are raised in Wallonia, the French-speaking southern region.
Environmental Pressure and Lack of Successors Behind the Decline
The survey was conducted within the framework of environmental policy development, aiming to assess how a natural decline in livestock farms could help reduce nitrogen and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the agency, the expected drop in pig numbers would lead to a 16–23% reduction in methane emissions by 2030. The reduction in ammonia emissions is projected to be even greater, as most of the farmers planning to exit the industry do not currently operate low-emission pig facilities. It is important to note that these figures only reflect the impact of livestock reduction—other possible emission-reduction measures were not included in the analysis.
A key reason for the anticipated decline in pig farming is the lack of a successor. All farmers without someone to take over their operations indicated that they would cease pig finishing. In contrast, those with a successor—typically a family member—or who remain undecided are more likely to continue farming.
Pig Farmers More Responsive to Environmental Regulation
The survey also revealed that 65% of finishing pig producers and 70% of sow farmers already take the Flemish government’s strict nitrogen policy into account when making business decisions. In comparison, only 44% of dairy farmers reported doing the same. This suggests that pig farming is currently under the greatest pressure from environmental regulations.
As a result, the Flemish pig farming sector is on the verge of substantial transformation. The anticipated decline in the number of farms, the reduction in pig population, and the continued consolidation of production may significantly reshape the landscape of Belgian pig farming by the end of this decade.
PigUA.info, based on materials from pigprogress.net