Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 24 ISSUE 1
Written by Agatha POPESCU, Toma Adrian DINU, Elena STOIAN, Horia Nicolae CIOCAN, Valentin ŞERBAN

The aim of this study is to analyze the land use at the global level and in the European Union in the period, 2000-2021, in order to identify the changes and trend pointing out the status of agricultural land and by category of use. Fixed and structural indices and suggestive illustration were used to show the variations and trends for agricultural land, arable land, crop land and permanent meadows and pastures at the global level, for the top countries with the largest agricultural area and in the EU-27 by member states. The global agricultural land decreased, in 2021, being 4,787.5 Million ha, by 1.8% smaller. The world crop land increased to 1,579.8 Million ha in 2021, being by 5.7% larger. Of the global agricultural land, 33% is cropland and 67% permanent grasslands. The larger cropland is in Asia, Americas and Europe. The largest countries in cropland represent 39.3%, while the largest countries in grasslands 23.2%. About 40% of the EU's territory is represented by agricultural land and belongs to France, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Finland, Italy, and Romania. The EU agricultural land decreased to 162,905.8 thousand ha, being by 10.83% smaller. Cropland declined by 9.4%, and permanent grasslands declined by 13.71%. Cropland accounts for 68%, while permanent grasslands for 32% in the EU. The EU keeps 3.4% of the global agricultural land, 7.01% of crop land and 1.62% of grasslands. In the most EU countries agricultural land declined. In the EU, it is a high concentration of agricultural land, but no concentration in arable land, cropland and permanent grasslands. The world agricultural land per capita declined from 0.24 ha in 2000 to 0.20 ha in 2021. The highest cropland per capita is in Oceania 0.77 ha, Europe 0.39 ha, Americas 0.37 ha, Africa 0.21 ha and Asia with only 0.13 ha. In the EU-27, the average is 36.56 ha agricultural land per capita. The expand of the agricultural land has to be stopped, as it is enough food to nourish the global population. New agro-eco technologies are called to increase crop yield and productivity to protect environment and biodiversity. The reduction in meat production and consumption will protect forests and cropland, and stopping deforestation will orient the people to a healthier and green diet.

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