European Commission Aims to Double Share of Young Farmers

TALLINN - The European Commission on Tuesday presented a strategy to support young farmers and increase the sector's attractiveness, aiming to double the share of young farmers, including new entrants, in the European Union to approximately 24 percent by 2040.

To achieve this, the Commission recommends that member states, especially those where the problem is more significant, invest at least 6 percent of their agricultural spending in measures promoting generational renewal. They are also encouraged to utilize opportunities for additional funding. Under the strategy, member states are expected to develop national strategies for generational renewal in agriculture by 2028, addressing existing barriers and identifying necessary support measures based on the Commission's recommendations.

Under the strategy, member states are expected to develop national strategies for generational renewal in agriculture by 2028, addressing barriers and defining the necessary support measures based on the Commission's recommendations.

The strategy addresses five key issues: access to land, financing, skills, a fair standard of living in rural areas, and support for succession. Each of these levers will be addressed through targeted flagship initiatives.

The proposal includes establishing a start-up package for young farmers under the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to facilitate their entry and establishment in the sector, with a one-off grant of up to 300,000 euros, and directing more funds towards young farmers.

The strategy envisions collaborating with the European Investment Bank to develop guarantee schemes and/or interest rate subsidies to facilitate access to finance, and establishing a European Land Observatory to improve transparency in land ownership.

Furthermore, relevant aspects related to generational renewal in matters of inheritance, pensions, and farm ownership transfer need to be integrated into the European Semester cycle. Young farmers will also be encouraged to participate in the 'Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs' program to acquire farming practices abroad or diversify their income sources by learning from other sectors.

The strategy also provides for creating good living conditions in rural areas while supporting local development and the inclusion of young people and women. It also includes co-financing farm relief services that would allow for the replacement of farm workers during illness, holidays, or while caring for relatives, in order to improve their work-life balance.