Flemish onion cultivation has been growing for years, but the past season clearly demonstrates that it's not without risks. While the acreage increased again to 4.652 hectares, Flemish onion growers faced exceptionally high disease pressure and storage problems. All of this is making growers cautious at a time when the entire arable farming sector is already under pressure from low prices and shrinking contracts. Therefore, drawing up the cropping plan for 2026 at this time is a significant challenge.
According to BoerenBunder, the Flemish onion acreage reached 4.652 hectares this year. That's 2,7% more than last year, 23% more than two years ago, and more than twice as much as ten years ago. Jonas Bodyn, a researcher in arable vegetables at Viaverda, explains in Vilt, Belgium, that Flemish onions are finding their way to the fresh produce market, the industry, and Dutch exporters; all segments that have seen growth in recent years. Yields varied widely this season, however, from barely 25 to a maximum of 50 tons per hectare.
Onions remain attractive
However, the fusarium infection is proving more serious than initially thought. The fungus is causing significant storage problems, even in onions grown on fields where onions have never been grown before. "Onions grow best in a consistent growing season. This year, there were more growth spurts, which may explain the disease pressure, but we can't say for sure," Bodyn told Vilt. Both Bodyn and Pieter Van Oost, crop production advisor at the Farmers' Union (Boerenbond), expect a further increase in acreage by 2026. This growth is driven not only by the market, but mainly by the weak results in other crops. Potatoes, sugar beets, industrial crops, and even grains are not very attractive financially at the moment, so arable farmers continue to search for alternatives.
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The problems in Flemish onion cultivation are not isolated. The entire Flemish arable farming sector is struggling with low prices due to high production at home and abroad. Many growers have therefore sown more winter wheat and barley in advance to incorporate more certainty into their 2026 crop planning. At the same time, sugar beet growers are facing tighter contracts. Tiense Suiker announced its intention to contract 25% fewer beets next year, while Iscal is also advising its growers to moderate production.
According to Limagrain agronomist Thomas Truyen, the saying "the only disaster is no disaster" refers to the abundant production of almost all crops. Although grain is currently yielding little, the risks remain limited and sales are secure, making it more attractive than riskier crops like potatoes or onions. Nevertheless, no extreme decline in potato acreage is expected. "Potato cultivation remains attractive," Truyen tells Vilt. "If something goes wrong somewhere in Northwest Europe, prices can quickly reverse." Low seed potato prices could also encourage additional growers to cultivate more open-field potatoes. In addition to grain, experts expect a sharp increase in grain and forage maize, possibly up to an additional 5.000 to 10.000 hectares. Dual-purpose maize is gaining ground due to its flexibility for animal feed or bioethanol. Interest in niche crops, including protein crops, is growing, but the processing industry warns against expanding too rapidly. "If a niche crop doubles in acreage, the price often collapses," Truyen explains at Vilt.
The General Belgian Flax Federation (Algemene Belgisch Flaxverbond) is also noticing increased demand for flax cultivation, but sees limited growth potential due to processing capacity. The Farmers' Union also sees room for rapeseed and, at the same time, onions. The combination of falling prices for traditional arable crops, the current low profitability of onions (compared to other crops), and the need for crop rotation is leading to increased interest in onion cultivation for 2026.