Agrifood lies at the heart of Wallonia. Thanks to its rich natural resources, the region’s industries and craft producers create ingredients and finished products of exceptional quality.

A Sustainable and Innovative Agriculture

Agricultural activities occupy a significant share of Wallonia’s land, with 44% of the territory dedicated to farming. This land is used for a diverse range of purposes, including permanent grassland, cereals, fodder crops, industrial crops (such as potatoes and sugar beet), and horticulture.

Livestock farming also plays a key role: Wallonia counts around 6,612 farms with an average herd size of 153 animals per holding.

Overall, agriculture remains a major land use and a cornerstone of Wallonia’s economy, extending well beyond its industrial processing sector.

Wallonia agriculture key figures

  • 44%

    of Wallonia’s territory is dedicated to agriculture

  • 12,381

    farms

  • 738,927

    hectares of agricultural land

  • 1.035.000

    bovines

A hub for cutting-hedge solutions for agriculture

Wallonia is home to a dynamic ecosystem of companies and start-ups offering a comprehensive range of solutions for sustainable agriculture. Supported by a strong network of applied research and development, the region is at the forefront of innovation in biocontrol and bio-stimulants.

From ingredient developers and formulation experts to seasoned regulatory specialists, Wallonia brings together the full value chain. This unique concentration of expertise positions the region as a leading hub for cutting-edge solutions driving the transition to more a sustainable agriculture.

Explore the Walloon offer

Quality and tradition in Food & Beverages

Wallonia’s agri-food sector blends heritage with performance. From global export leaders to a vibrant network of SMEs and artisanal producers, the region offers a rich and diverse food ecosystem rooted in strong local agriculture—livestock, crops, and know-how.

While SMEs form the backbone of employment, major players drive international reach and growth, putting Wallonia firmly on the global food map.

From iconic Belgian waffles and world-famous frozen fries to exquisite Belgian chocolate, Wallonia delivers taste, authenticity, and excellence—making it a true destination for food lovers.

Ingredients for healthy and innovative food & food supplements.

Wallonia is fast emerging as a go-to hub for next-generation food and supplement ingredients. Powered by strong R&D capabilities, the region seamlessly connects research centres, universities and companies to accelerate innovation.

Applied research is driving the development of functional foods, clean-label solutions, sustainable and plant-based products—fully aligned with circular economy principles.

Flagship initiatives such as FoodBooster are shaping a ‘Walloon hub for nutrition and health’, advancing high-value ingredients like prebiotics, probiotics and bioactive peptides. At the same time, programmes such as PROTEWIN and other projects under the Walloon innovation strategy are unlocking the potential of plant proteins and alternative ingredients—including those derived from co-products and by-products—to sustainably nourish both humans and animals.”

Organic, from farm to fork

Wallonia’s commitment to organic is rooted in its land. More than 60% of the food produced in the region comes directly from its own agriculture, ensuring strong local value chains and traceability.

Today, Wallonia counts over 2,000 organic farms—around 16% of all farms—reflecting a deep and sustained shift towards more sustainable practices. Organic farmland now covers more than 92,000 hectares, representing approximately 12.5% of the total agricultural area and positioning Wallonia among Europe’s leaders in organic farming.

Over the past two decades, the sector has experienced remarkable growth, with both the number of farms and cultivated areas more than doubling. While 2023 shows a slight consolidation, the long-term trend confirms Wallonia’s strong momentum towards organic and sustainable agriculture.

Innovation & quality are the two engines of the agri-food sector in Wallonia. A dense network of schools, universities, and professional training centres prepare numerous skilled workers to join the companies

Key figures 2023

  • €11.6 billion in turnover

    the food sector is the largest industrial sector of Wallonia

  • 25,906

    the sector accounts for 1 in 5 industrial jobs

  • €2.1 billion in exports

    the food sector enjoys a positive trade balance

Our partners

Cluster

Wagralim

Wagralim, the Agri-Food innovation cluster counts more than 300 companies members. The cluster is the catalyzer of numerous R&D’s projects between companies, as well as an important player at the European level, taking part in major European projects and networks.

Federation

Fevia

Fevia Wallonia, the Belgian federation for the food and beverages industry, is a strong federation representing about 1 200 companies and defending the interests of the sector

Brand

food.be

“Food.be – Small country. Great food.” is the brand (created by Fevia) we use to promote the quality, innovation and sustainability of Belgian food and drinks.

Invest in the agrifood sector in Wallonia

Success stories

Find out more
Article

Leonidas moves into a new factory in Nivelles

08.02.2026
Find out more
Article

French company Toopi Organics sets up a branch in Wallonia to recycle human urine into biostimulants

28.01.2026
Find out more
Article

Nuverta, excellence in plant based

22.01.2026
Find out more
Article

Hub for biosolutions development and production

22.01.2026