On August 26th, 2026, we hosted the sixth IFCN monthly researcher meeting of the year. One of the highlights of this webinar was a thought-provoking presentation by Astrid Vangerven on the “Dairy Market Situation in Belgium,” which covered the following key points:
The August Speaker
Astrid Vangerven | Belgium
Policy Advisor for Dairy, Wine and Spirits at the Flemish Agency for Agriculture and Sea Fisheries (Agentschap Landbouw en Zeevisserij), supporting agricultural and food sector policy development in Flanders.
Experienced dairy sector specialist, previously working at BCZ-CBL on dairy economics, milk supply, and export markets, and serving as Secretary of MilkBE, Belgium’s dairy interbranch organization.
Academic background in agriculture and rural development, holding a Master’s in Development and Rural Innovation from Wageningen University & Research and a Master’s in Bioscience Engineering (Agronomy) from KU Leuven.
Key Dairy Sector Facts in Belgium
- Belgian milk production has strong long-term prospects despite regulatory and economic challenges. The sector faces constraints such as environmental regulations, succession issues, and high energy costs, but it remains fundamentally competitive.
- A highly efficient dairy industry and resilient milk prices support future growth. Belgian dairy processors continue to perform strongly, and dairy markets have remained relatively resilient even after weaker Chinese demand.
- Growing demand for dairy is creating new opportunities. Rising consumption of specialty products, sustainably sourced dairy, and cheese across Europe, combined with increasing global purchasing power, provides a positive outlook for the sector.
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- Dairy demand worldwide and trade developments
- Milk production and processing profile
- Monthly milk production changes
- Costs of milk production
- World milk price