Pressure on agricultural land will increase in the coming years

Between 2013 and 2020, the area of ​​agricultural land decreased by about 24.400 hectares. Of this, 20.000 hectares of land were used for housing, industry and infrastructure and 4.400 hectares were used for nature and water. This is apparent from new figures from the Natural Capital Accounts compiled by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) in collaboration with Wageningen University (WUR). The pressure on agricultural land will only increase in the coming years.

About 49% of the surface of the Netherlands had an agricultural destination in 2020, mainly fields and meadows. Buildings covered almost 24% of the land area. This includes all areas that are largely built-up or paved, such as buildings, industrial estates, roads and other infrastructure. Of the land surface, 16% is (semi-) nature. This includes protected heathland and forests of Natura 2000 areas as well as hedges and hedges, often with some form of landscape or nature management, production forests and areas of forest without protection status. Fresh and brackish water and the coastal strip cover 11% of the Dutch territory.

The amount of agricultural land that disappears differs per province (see picture). At 5.800 hectares, the area of ​​agricultural land has decreased most in North Brabant. This is followed by Gelderland with 3.800 hectares. In all provinces, with the exception of Zeeland, the loss of agricultural land is mainly due to more buildings and to a lesser extent to nature development.

Still 54.000 hectares needed for nature
The pressure on the living environment will increase in the coming years, Statistics Netherlands said in a press release. "In the coming years, space will be needed for, among other things, the construction of 1 million homes, for the construction of wind turbines and solar panels, but also for the expansion of the Netherlands Nature Network and the Forest Strategy." The latter two require 35.000 and 19.000 hectares respectively before 2027 and 2030.

Linda van Eekeres

Linda van Eekeres is co-writing editor-in-chief. She mainly focuses on macro-economic developments and the influence of politics on the agricultural sector.

l.vaneekeres@boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.