Land use struggle intensifies for farmers in Belle, Denmark amidst agricultural transformation

From above, Denmark resembles a patchwork quilt of yellow, green, and brown squares, with three-fifths of the country covered in fields. One small section of this quilt belongs to Anita Prehst and her family, located in the village of Belle, north of Vejle Fjord. In the documentary “Bondeblod,” Anita fights to sustain the family farm, Belle Nygaard, a legacy passed down from her father and grandfather. However, she is uncertain how long she can afford to cultivate her land or whether her son, Alfred, will have the opportunity to do so in the future.

Denmark’s agricultural landscape is undergoing significant transformation. Politicians are negotiating a green deal that aims to convert extensive agricultural lands into forests and wetlands to boost biodiversity and sequester atmospheric CO2. This situation is exacerbated by competing interests—so much so that there is insufficient land available. A 2017 report estimated that nearly one and a half times the size of Denmark would be needed to accommodate all proposed land uses, and ambitions have only grown since then.

In Belle, most farmland is now owned by investors, a situation that worries Anita Prehst. She finds it disheartening that as land is purchased, homes often remain vacant or are rented out, diluting community ties. Rising land prices, fueled by the interests of funds and pension companies, make it difficult for her to expand her operations.

Investors are also interested in solar farms, projected to multiply by 14 times by 2049, often outbidding farmers for land. While investors justify their choices based on returns, locals like Anita lament the loss of agricultural landscapes. New initiatives also redirect land for residential and infrastructural development, complicating the future of farming in Denmark.

Experts call for a national plan on land use that promotes dual purposes for the same land, ensuring agricultural viability amid the increasing demand for space.