Europe seeks solutions to attract younger generation to farming

European policymakers are intensifying efforts to address the growing generational gap in agriculture by exploring structural, cultural, and economic barriers that deter younger people from entering the sector. The European Commission has committed to outlining a comprehensive generational renewal strategy in 2025 as part of its broader “Vision for Agriculture and Food,” which aims to make farming more viable and appealing to new entrants.

The initiative will also form part of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) proposal, which is expected to include targeted support for young farmers. Earlier this month, European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen convened a youth policy dialogue in Brussels, engaging with farmers under the age of 40. Discussions focused on the profile of Europe’s farming population and the specific challenges facing younger entrants, including access to land, financial sustainability, and administrative complexity.

At the national level, Ireland is undertaking its own review of generational renewal. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, announced that an independent commission report, established in October 2024, is due for release by the end of June. According to Heydon, the commission is pursuing an “objective, evidence-based approach” to evaluate the multifaceted factors limiting farm succession and youth participation.

Ireland has also committed over €1.5 million to support three European Innovation Partnership (EIP) projects targeting generational renewal. These include:

• Farm Forward, a collaborative initiative involving Ballyhoura Development, Teagasc, Dairygold, and local authorities;
• RAISE (Renewal in Agriculture through Intergenerational Support & Empowerment), supported by ICOS, Teagasc, Aurivo and Dairygold;
• Using Share Farming to Facilitate Generational Renewal, led by the Land Mobility Service and other stakeholders.

Alongside policy efforts, academic contributions are also shaping the conversation. During a recent visit to Ireland, Professor Frank Vanclay of the University of Groningen outlined a sociological framework to address “youth disengagement” from agriculture. Speaking at Teagasc’s Mellows Campus, Prof. Vanclay emphasised that generational renewal must go beyond economic support to consider emotional, cultural and identity-based dimensions of farming.

His proposed framework rests on four principles: improving the attractiveness of farming beyond income, addressing structural disadvantages, promoting farmer-led innovation, and simplifying policy implementation. He also cautioned that inflexible and complex programmes can erode trust, calling for “simpler, context-sensitive programmes co-designed with farmers.”

Vanclay stressed the importance of recognising the diversity within the farming community, noting that a uniform policy model is unlikely to succeed. “Differentiated support tailored to specific farming styles and local contexts” is essential, he said, to ensure a viable future for agriculture across Europe.