How the CAP Has Your Back: Support for Young Farmers in Belgium

Thinking about starting or growing your farm in Belgium? You’re not alone — and the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is putting real money on the table to help young farmers like you succeed. Between 2023 and 2027, Belgium has set aside over €100 million just for young farmers. That’s serious backing, and it comes in different forms depending on whether you’re farming in Flanders or Wallonia.

Why all this support? Belgium’s farming population is getting older. In 2020, only 6.3% of farmers were under 35 — that’s tiny! To fix this, the EU now requires every member country to give at least 3% of their direct payments to young farmers.

  • Flanders went big: more than €49 million (about 40% above the EU minimum).
  • Wallonia put in €40 million, hitting the EU’s

The message is clear: the next generation of farmers is a top priority.

What’s in it for you?

Here’s a quick breakdown of the main supports available:

1. CISYF (Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers)

  • Extra money per hectare, every
  • In Flanders: about €200/ha.
  • In Wallonia: €140/ha for the first 50 ha, then €80/ha for the next 50.

2. Installation Aid.

Starting a farm is expensive — so here’s some help:

  • Flanders: one-off payment of €100,000 per project.
  • Wallonia: one-off payment of €70,000 per project.

3.  Investment Support

Want to modernise, go greener, or try innovative approaches? CAP helps cover those investments, especially if you’re pushing for sustainability.

4. Training & Advice

  • Priority access to advisory services and
  • Opportunities to team up with other
  • Knowledge-sharing and mentoring to sharpen your

The Big Picture

The Belgian CAP plans aim to help around 1,665 young farmers in Flanders and 620 in Wallonia set up their farms between 2023–2027. The goal? To make it easier to start farming, give young farmers a steady income boost, support investments in modern, sustainable farming; and build the networks and skills that set you up for long-term success.

Who Qualifies as a Young Farmer?

To be considered a young farmer under CAP, you need to meet three main criteria:

1. Age

In Flanders, you must be under 40 years old (the whole calendar year counts!). In Wallonia, you should be under 41 years old.

2. Farm Leadership

Running the Show. You must actually run the farm, either as an individual or through a company.

  Flanders:

  • Individual: Real, long-term control over management, finances, and operations. You call the shots!
  • Company: You must be the director and own at least 15% of the shares.

  Wallonia:

  • Individual: Fully own and run the farm, and be legally and financially responsible.
  • Company: Be an active (co-)manager, hold at least 25% of the shares, and share equally in decisions, risks, and benefits.

3. Education & Training

  • Flanders: An agricultural diploma (secondary or higher), OR A starter training certificate in agriculture/horticulture
  • Wallonia: Secondary school diploma (general or technical) + 2 years of experience + 150 hours of agricultural training, OR 5 years of experience + a basic agronomic certificate

Bottom line: If you’re a young farmer in Belgium, CAP isn’t just policy talk — it’s money, training, and support designed to get you up and running. Whether you’re planting your first crops or taking over the family farm, there’s a package of tools waiting to help you grow.

It’s not so complicated after all, right?

With the right support, your dream of farming doesn’t have to stay a dream. The land is waiting. Are you ready?