The European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, has proposed a new “starter package” to encourage young people to invest in agriculture, allocating 300,000 euros to be included in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This policy is intended to prevent imbalances in agricultural production and trade.
The Commission also aims to increase funding availability for young farmers and involve the European Investment Bank (EIB) by offering favorable credit lines to boost investments. Concurrently, an observatory will be established to ensure transparency in agricultural production and land acquisition.
“This will help farmers access available lands, support farmer succession, provide legal information, prevent speculation, and facilitate newcomers’ entry into agriculture,” the European Commission stated in the provided documents.
Among the measures presented by the European Commission, the creation of “agricultural relief services” is proposed, essentially a pool of workers to replace farmers who are ill, on vacation, or caring for family, improving the work-life balance.
These initiatives are part of a legislative package aimed at ensuring the generational succession of farmers and attracting young people to the sector.
The European Commission notes the average age of farmers in the European Union is 57, with only 12% of the total in the 27 member states being under 40, and thus classified as young farmers.
“This imbalance poses a risk to long-term food security, the EU’s strategic autonomy in food production, and the sustainability of European agricultural landscapes,” warns Brussels.
