EPP-CoR members call for stronger regional involvement and targeted support to tackle Europe's growing generational challenge in agriculture.
Europe must do more to attract and retain young people in farming if it wants to safeguard its food security, rural communities and agricultural competitiveness. During the European Committee of the Regions plenary debate on the opinion Strategy for generational renewal in agriculture, EPP-CoR members called for stronger support for young farmers and a greater role for regions in shaping the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The challenge is pressing. According to Eurostat, only 11.9% of EU farmers were under the age of 40 in 2020, while 57.6% of farm managers were aged 55 and over. Access to finance remains a major barrier, with the agricultural financing gap reaching €62 billion in 2022. Young farmers and small farms are among the most affected, with almost half of loan applications rejected, according to the European Commission and the European Investment Bank.
Ruth Merino, Regional Vice-minister for the Representation to the European Union and the Spanish Autonomous Regions, Government of the Region of Valencia (ES/EPP), stressed that young people need better opportunities to enter the sector. "Europe's farming sector needs a new generation. Young farmers do not lack vocation—they face barriers. By improving access to finance, land, training and water resources, and by giving regions a stronger voice in shaping agricultural policies, we can ensure a resilient, competitive and sustainable future for European agriculture."
Dimitrios Kafantaris, Municipal Councillor of Pylos-Nestor (EL/EPP), highlighted that successful generational renewal depends on the quality of life in rural areas. "Attracting young people to farming is about far more than access to land or finance. It requires vibrant rural communities with quality healthcare, education, housing, digital connectivity and modern infrastructure. If we want the next generation to stay, we must create the conditions for a sustainable future in rural and island regions across Europe."
The opinion warns that the proposed post-2028 CAP model, based on a single national and regional partnership plan per Member State, risks reducing flexibility for regions, increasing administrative burdens and weakening the regional dimension of agricultural policy.