At 28 years old, Belgian farmer Corentin is about to make the biggest decision of his life.

The day we meet him, he is heading to the notary together with his father. By the end of the day, he will officially take over the family farm — a business that has been in his family for generations. Once the papers are signed, there is no turning back.

"I’m a bit stressed," he admits. "Until now, I could still change my mind. But once I sign, I’ll have loans to repay. There’s no going back."

Corentin grew up on the farm in southern Belgium, where his family raises cattle and cultivates crops across nearly 190 hectares of land. Becoming a farmer was never a sudden career choice. As he puts it, he always knew he wanted to continue what his father and grandfather had built before him.

For many young Europeans, taking over a family business can feel like inheriting a legacy. But in agriculture, it often also means inheriting risk.

To buy part of the farm from his father, Corentin is taking on substantial debt. In the first years, most of his income will go toward repaying loans. At the same time, he faces challenges that previous generations could hardly have imagined: volatile energy prices, rising production costs, international competition and growing uncertainty about the future of farming in Europe.

These pressures are one reason why so many farms struggle to find successors. According to official figures in Wallonia, only a minority of farms successfully pass from one generation to the next.

Yet Corentin remains optimistic.

With a degree in agronomy and years of experience working in the agricultural sector, he believes his farm's mix of dairy, beef and grain production gives it a stable foundation. Still, every day brings new responsibilities. A sick cow, a broken tractor or a failed harvest can quickly become a costly problem.

His father and grandfather know this reality well. Both still help on the farm and offer advice whenever needed. But neither believes family tradition alone is a reason to take over.

"You can't force someone to run a farm," his father says. "If they're unhappy, there's no point."

For Corentin, the decision ultimately comes down to something deeper than economics. Taking over the farm is his way of honouring the sacrifices made by previous generations and proving that the work they started still has a future.

"I hope my generation, and the one after, will still produce something in Europe," he says.

Whether more young people will choose that path remains an open question. But for Corentin, the answer is now clear. The papers are signed. Tomorrow, the farm will be his.