The seventh European Congress of Young Farmers was held in the EU Parliament on December 9 and highlighted the dedication and innovation put forward by young famers, reports ProAgro Group, citing Agriland.
Under the topic ‘Young farmers as role models of resilience’, the congress took place just after the adoption of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027 by the European Parliament and the Council.
Only 11% of all farms in the EU are run by people under 40-years of age, while 65% of farms are run by someone over the age of 55.
Simone Schmiedtbauer, MEP for the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development said:
“Getting young people to become farmers is a major challenge; what we now need is incentives for young people to take up farming, investments in our farmers and those who become farmers.”
Access to land and profitability are needed to attract and maintain young farmers. Digitalisation and access to technologies are among the challenges faced by rural life.
The congress acknowledged that the CAP should be the most important tool – providing a “tool box” for young farmers to succeed.
