Agriculture in Europe is faced with a major challenge, an ageing population. And yet, young farmers are key to the EU’s food security and to lively rural areas. To address this, the Commission has presented a strategy for generational renewal in agriculture. It aims to support young farmers and attract more people to farming.
Currently, the average age of an EU farmer is 57 and only 12% are under 40. To keep farming resilient and attractive, young people must have the right conditions to build their lives and careers in rural areas. This new strategy sets a clear roadmap for how to achieve this, aiming to double the share of young farmers in Europe by 2040.
The strategy identifies five key levers for action — access to land, finance, skills, fair living standards in rural areas, and support for succession. Concrete initiatives include
- introducing a ‘starter pack’ for young farmers in the next common agricultural policy, including a lump sum of up to €300 000, to facilitate their entry and establishment in the sector
- better targeting of funds in favour of young farmers
- working with the European Investment Bank to facilitate access to finance
- making it easier for new entrants to start farming, thanks to a European Land Observatory, which will help farmers access available land, support farm succession, inform policy, and prevent land speculation
- inviting young farmers to participate in Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs so they can learn good farming practices abroad or diversify their revenue by learning from other sectors
- promoting good living conditions in rural areas while supporting local development and youth and women’s involvement
- co-funding farm relief services that replace farmers during illness, holidays, or caregiving, to improve their work-life balance.
The strategy will be implemented at multiple levels: through the current and future common agricultural policy, complementary EU policies, initiatives by stakeholders, and national actions.
Efforts at the national level will be crucial for its success. That is why the Commission is also urging EU countries to invest at least 6% of agricultural spending into measures promoting generational renewal. On top of this, the strategy includes developing national strategies by 2028 that should address challenges and define support measures for young farmers.
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