About: young farmers
EU’s new agriculture Commissioner vows to promote organic farming
The EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, highlighted the promotion of organic farming as a key aim for the new European Commission in his inaugural speech yesterday (10 December).
France’s young farmers are struggling to establish themselves
Between the challenge of accessing land and the cost of transferring ownership of farms, young French farmers are struggling to establish themselves as farmers. The question is, will the next generation of farmers be able to take up the baton in France? EURACTIV France reports.
Land speculation squeezes out young farmers in East Germany
In East Germany, young farmers are finding it increasingly difficult to purchase land because significant investors are not acquiring land for agricultural purposes and because former GDR cooperatives are being privatised. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Italy’s young farmers: Networking to make revenues
The number of young people entering the agriculture sector is increasing, but there are many problems to be addressed. Networking is a good way to overcome them. EURACTIV's partner Agronotizie reports.
Keeping young farmers in rural areas is the biggest challenge for Croatia
Generational renewal of Croatian agriculture is a slow process burdened with negative demographic trends, constant migration and a non-competitive market. EURACTIV Croatia reports.
Profitability, land and passion for the countryside: the magic triangle of agriculture’s generational renewal
In Spain and across the European Union, more than 90% of farmers are close to the retirement age, meaning that the problem of generational renewal poses a serious problem. Finding a solution depends on the combination of a magical triangle. EURACTIV's partner EFE reports.
‘Burdensome administration’ means young farmers are missing out on EU subsidies
Young farmers accessing land via non-conventional contracts are eligible for EU subsidies, according to the European Commission. But in practice, burdensome administrative constraints often outweighs any financial advantage, meaning that landowners are cashing in while young farmers are missing out.
Generational renewal in agriculture
More than 31% of all farms in the EU are run by farmers older than 65, whilst young farmers represent only 6% of European agricultural community. Reversing this trend is one of the toughest challenges for the main EU farming policy.
German farmers rely on subsidies, says young female farmer
The number of young people who want to work in agriculture is shrinking. Those who choose farming in Germany have to put up with high acquisition costs, complicated bureaucratic requirements and a modest income. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Farmers launch rallying cry for European elections
"Vote for our future". Copa-Cogeca, the European umbrella organisation of farmers and cooperatives, called on all farmers to vote in the upcoming European elections, spelling out its demands for Europe's future agricultural policy. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Will the post-2020 CAP be a missed opportunity?
MEPs need to overhaul the European Commission's plans to reform the Common Agricultural Policy, to attract young farmers, give farmers a fair wage, and protect the environment, argues Luke Flanagan.
Young Polish farmer: The reasons to move to the countryside
Small farms dominate the Polish agriculture. Their area gradually decreases, but data from the Central Statistical Office shows that the average Polish farmer has two to five hectares of land at his/her disposal. EURACTIV Poland reports.
Low returns and rural areas’ restrictions keep young Greek farmers away
Low profitability and poor infrastructure quality make farming in Greece unattractive to young people, who are needed more than ever before to take the agricultural sector a step forward, stakeholders have told EURACTIV Greece.
Young people and women ‘both needed’ in the next CAP, Spaniards say
Excessive red tape, combined with lack of access to land and proper rural infrastructure, continues to be the main obstacle to attracting young men and women in Spain’s agriculture sector. EFE Agro reports.
Young farmers in Romania hampered by lack of bank guarantees
Getting a loan is the biggest problem faced by young farmers in Romania, especially when they are unable to provide guarantees as back-up, EURACTIV Romania reports.
Lack of infrastructure and small farm support discourages young people in Germany
The lack of proper infrastructure in German rural areas, as well as poor support for new small farms, prevent young people from investing in agriculture and force them to move to cities. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Young farmers call for strong CAP budget to ensure generational renewal
EU member states will have to deal with the generational renewal of the EU farming sector “whether they like it or not,” young farmers say. And to do so, they first need to support a strong budget for the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), they argue.
Young people and women in EU farming
The EU farming sector is faced with an ageing population. In 2016 only 11% of farm managers in the EU were young farmers under the age of 40 years, according to Eurostat.
‘Third-child’ policy: Italy’s Lega wants to give farmland for free to large families
Italy's populist government is proposing to give land to families about to have a third child, hoping it would help fight the growing depopulation of rural areas and abandonment of arable land. But it has not been embraced by everyone.
Farming’s ageing and negativity problem
Agriculture still has to face up to the fact that farmers are ageing and young farmers are not interested. The cause rests in the limited access to land, migration from the countryside to urban areas and the negative media image imposed on agriculture. EURACTIV Czech Republic reports.
Greenpeace: Risk management tools cannot solve ‘unsustainable’ CAP system
Public policies should not embrace risk management tools that cement the current ecological and economically unsustainable agri-food system, Greenpeace's food and agriculture director Marco Contiero told EURACTIV.com.
Hogan: 3 reasons EU farmers should take the risk and invest in agriculture
European farmers should invest in post-2020 agriculture as it will be less bureaucratic, more focused on “technology breakthroughs” and will improve their standard of living, EU Commissioner Phil Hogan told EURACTIV.com.
How can the CAP combat rural poverty and land abandonment?
Agriculture is a vital pillar of Europe’s rural economies, providing jobs and supporting rural communities.