Opinion Article from MEP Maria Walsh, published in the Farming Independent
The demographic crisis in the farming sector leaves us with one stark question: who’s going to grow the food we put on our plates?
According to EU law, a young farmer is generally defined as being between 35 and 40 years old. Farmers under the age of 40 only manage 12% of all farm holdings in the EU, of which female young farmers represent less than 3%. When we look at the figures for young farmers in Ireland, the image is similarly striking: the number of farmers under the age of 35 has halved in the past 20 years or so. Only 7% of farmers are under the age of 35, while more than 30% are over 65. The average age of a farmer in Ireland is consistently ticking up, with the figure now standing at 58 years old; a trend replicated across many other EU countries.
These statistics boil down to one simple fact; fewer people are choosing farming as a profession every year. While this is deeply concerning for the sector, it is not surprising on a personal level. As a young farmer, I am all too aware of the challenges faced by my peers. Land and machinery are expensive, access to finance is difficult, basic infrastructure needs are not met, and regular income is unpredictable.
These were issues raised by young farmers at a recent event I attended with the new European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, on the occasion of his first visit to Ireland following my invitation to him last year. The Commissioner met with agriculture experts and stakeholders from across the country including a young suckler farmer from County Sligo, a dairy farmer from County Cavan, and a Professor from UCD School of Agriculture.
As was acknowledged by the Commissioner and those in attendance, there is no easy fix to the issue of generational renewal. A silver bullet to reverse the ageing population of our farming community does not exist – otherwise we wouldn’t be talking about this issue for decades on end. There are, however, many separate answers to this problem that, combined, can open up the sector to young people. And that, unsurprisingly, takes national and EU-level efforts.
For as long as farmers are locked out of accessing finance, we will continue to see young people turn away from the agriculture sector. Access to land, modern equipment, and sustainable income is a huge challenge for many young people. Young farmers are often turned down by traditional banks, with few alternative finance options available through some Credit Unions. The issue of access to finance is one that can be at least partially solved at an EU level, both through investment and loan options, as well as payment support from the CAP.
We are beginning to see the issue of access to finance being tackled in Brussels. The European Investment Bank (EIB) recently announced €3 billion in financing for farmers, marking the Bank’s largest ever financing initiative for European agriculture. While this investment is welcomed and much-needed, we must see it reaching the pockets of young farmers. In practice, this should look like low-interest loans, specific to the needs of young entrants. Such loans will provide the capital needed to buy land, modernize equipment, and implement sustainable practices. At the same time, more grant opportunities should be made available to first-time farmers, reducing their reliance on traditional bank loans.
In its current form, the CAP includes income support schemes for young farmers. Most notably, EU countries must dedicate at least 3% of their direct payments budget to support young farmers. However, reports show that the current CAP is failing to properly encourage and design-think for generational renewal. Our priority must now be putting generational renewal on the top of the political agenda for the upcoming CAP negotiations; this is where the real tangible opportunity for progress exists.
The negotiations for the next CAP reform will most likely take place during the six month Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which takes place in the second half of 2026. This timing is a significant advantage to Irish farmers as it will see an increased influence from Ireland in steering the discussions between the European Commission, Parliament and Council, the three institutions which have a say in how the new CAP will look like.
In order to design a CAP that benefits Irish farmers, we need to start doing our homework now, both at home and in Brussels. We must begin by looking at the percentage of direct payments supporting young farmers. I believe there is a credible argument for increasing this beyond the current 3% and should be one of our top focuses during the CAP negotiations, along with a review of the current 25% top-up payment for farmers under 40.
While there is much to be done by Ministers and MEPs at a European level, the EU alone will never solve this problem. Perhaps the biggest challenge for young farmers that must be solved at a national level is land availability and succession planning. As land prices continue to rise and farmland becomes increasingly concentrated in fewer hands, the next generation is finding it harder than ever to secure their foothold in the sector.
Tax incentives for older farmers willing to lease or sell land to young entrants will help alleviate the problem. Similarly, expanding schemes like the Land Mobility Service, which facilitates land-sharing agreements, could encourage more partnerships between retiring farmers and young, enthusiastic farmers. I believe the Government should design and establish a land bank or observatory to provide affordable land to new farmers.
Moreover, promoting cooperative models of farming – where groups of young farmers can pool resources to purchase or lease land – can be another way to reduce the individual financial burden of land acquisition.
Progress is being made. CEJA, the European Council of Young Farmers, recently welcomed the EU’s Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture, stating it ‘provides young farmers with practical pathways in the sustainable transition.’ Last month, The 10th EPP European Congress of Young Farmers brought together a record 500 participants and gave young European farmers the opportunity to showcase exciting and innovative projects which are potentially transformative for the future of agriculture.
However, the fact still remains that far more farmers are leaving the profession than are entering. The emergence of new political commitment and ambitious reports must now be matched with finance, actions and education. If we fail to do so, we could very well be looking at empty plates on our dinner tables.
