Strategy for generational renewal in agriculture

Calls

 for a specific minimum budget for young farmers, with a focus on new entrants, smaller holdings and sustainable farming models, which should be set at around 10% of the CAP budget

 on the European Commission to require Member States to ensure the mandatory and meaningful participation of local and regional authorities, professional organisations, youth representatives and youth-led organisations in the design, implementation and evaluation of national strategies, and to consider, where appropriate, regional strategies in order to make measures aimed at young farmers more effective and more cohesive

 for the ‘starter pack for young farmers’ to be made accessible through local and regional entry points, where young farmers can obtain information, submit applications and manage all authorisations related to the development of their activity, thereby facilitating administrative procedures and reducing bureaucracy

 for investment in early retirement schemes in order to provide a dignified, financially secure and planned exit for farmers who are older or in a position to stop working and transfer their farms to young people

Supports

 the Strategy for Generational Renewal in Agriculture as an important step towards addressing persistent demographic challenges in the agricultural sector and rural areas and as a structural priority in the post-2027 common agricultural policy (CAP) objectives, especially in the regions most affected by long term depopulation and ageing trends

 the role of cooperatives and other forms of association, as their resources and capacities are key to the provision of services in rural areas, including by pooling investment, improving access to finance, promoting democratic governance and fair value distribution, and lowering entry barriers for young and new farmers, in support of more sustainable farming models

Regrets

 that the level of ambition of the strategy is not reflected in the legislative and budgetary proposals, which should establish a firm and binding financial commitment from the European Commission