Today, the European Commission presented its Strategy for Generational Renewal in Agriculture, looking to 2040. It rightly recognizes the urgent demographic challenge facing European agriculture: an ageing farming population and too few young farmers entering the sector, a key challenge on which Copa and Cogeca have been raising awareness for some time now.
Copa and Cogeca particularly welcome the targeted strategic approach on generational renewal and take note of some positive elements such as the announced work on the Women in Farming platform and the recognition of the key role of agri-cooperatives in supporting young farmers. The EU Observatory on farmland could play a role respecting Member States competences while enhancing transparency, data comparability and cooperation.
However, the strategy fails to provide ambition and solutions to the economic challenges faced by European agriculture, namely the low level of income of the sector. Generational renewal will only succeed if farming offers viable economic prospects. No young person will choose or remain in the farming sector unless a fair income, comparable to other sectors of the economy, is made available to them.
The proposed Strategy to be built into the MFF proposals is doomed to fail if not backed by an individual, common and separate agricultural policy with a dedicated and inflation-proof budget. Current CAP proposal on the table cannot be accepted! It is not placing agriculture, its young farmers, woman farmers, farmers and cooperatives as a priority for the EU.
Overcoming the identified barriers of access to land, affordable credit and skills requires coordinated action, including effective succession schemes and targeted investment tools that facilitate smooth farm transfer and start-up.
Our organisations stand ready to work constructively to ensure prospects and stability for a strategic sector guarantor of our EU food security.
Fonte: Copa Cogeca
