Celebrating 50 years of the CAP: looking to a new generation of farmers

This year, the year we celebrate 50 years of the Common Agricultural Policy, the agricultural associations 'CAP - Confederation of Portuguese Farmers' (Portugal) and 'ASAJA - Association for Agrarian of Young Farmers' (Spain), together with two members of the EPP Group, Portuguese MEP Nuno Melo and Spanish MEP Esther Herranz, proposed the organization of the 1st EPP Congress of Young Farmers in the European Parliament.

Young farmers continue to face several problems all across Europe. The most serious is undoubtedly the transmission of agricultural holdings from the most senior farmers to the newest.

To put an end to the desertion of rural areas, it is necessary to put in place a real, strengthened support policy for the sector.

An ageing farmer population

Statistically, at the European level, the available data tell us that there is one farmer younger than 35 years-old to every nine farmers aged 55 or more. In some Member States, such as Portugal, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Bulgaria, the proportion of young farmers is very low, with only one young farmer for every twenty farmers over 55 years old. However, there are countries like Poland, Austria and Germany that offer quite a different picture, with one young farmer for every three over 55.

These differences are explained mainly by the existence of a favourable legal framework in some countries, which enables the renewal of generations in rural areas through incentives to transmit agricultural holdings.

European analysis of agricultural structures reveals a systematic reduction of the number of farmers and an ageing process that is more dramatic than in any other economic sector. Since 2000, a reduction of 9% has been observed in the number of farmers and of 45% in young farmers.

Need for specific policies for young farmers during the CAP reform

Nobody questions the strategic character of agriculture, yet the reform of the CAP foresees nothing specific to prevent the decline of agricultural activity. Profound reflection on the direction we must take is urgent in order to make agriculture more attractive and to guarantee its profitability. If young farmers do not find a favourable environment in which to perform their farming activities, all the specific and well-intentioned measures designed to aid farmers, guarantee training and guarantee transfer of ownership will be wasted.

In calling for specific policies for young farmers, however, this does not mean that we want to marginalize the eldest. Our goal is to find a coherent aid framework, which makes agriculture a viable activity, because the problems that affect agriculture cut across the board, whether we are talking about young or older farmers.

Need for a change of mentality

It is necessary to change people's mentality to achieve this because the European farmer is still seen as someone that always depends on subsidies.

Young farmers are calling for positive discrimination in EU policy, so they have the opportunity to begin their working lives in a dignified and profitable way.

We must be aware that without young farmers in the sector today there will be no agriculture tomorrow.

1st European Congress of Young Farmers

The first European Congress of Young Farmers takes place on 6 December in room JAN 2Q2 in the European Parliament.