Generational renewal in agriculture

A new generation for Europe’s farms

Generational renewal is essential for Europe’s food security, sustainability, competitiveness and rural vitality. It helps safeguard Europe’s capacity to produce food, maintain innovation, and sustain life in rural areas.

Without young farmers, Europe risks losing not only skills and innovation, but also its ability to ensure a stable food supply and keep rural communities thriving.

Young farmers face today several entry barriers:

• Access to land remains difficult and costly.
• Access to credit is limited and complex.
• Skills and business knowledge are key and need further development.
• Rural services and infrastructure are often limited.
• Succession and retirement systems can delay farm transfer.

Unlocking access to young farmers

EU Strategy: helping young farmers take root

The Strategy for Generational Renewal in Agriculture sets out a comprehensive policy framework to make farming more accessible, competitive and future-proof.

It builds on reforms under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the proposal for the CAP 2028–2034, while connecting with new National and Regional Partnership Plans and broader EU and national reforms.

This integrated approach helps Member States coordinate measures across agricultural, rural, social, fiscal and innovation policies, ensuring that young and new farmers receive consistent, long-term support.

The Strategy focuses on different aspects where action can have the greatest impact. It provides a coordinated EU and national response by combining financial support, fairer land markets, training, and reforms that promote timely farm succession and adequate pension security for retiring farmers.

Starting: Making it easier to begin and stay in farming

New entrants will benefit from clearer, simpler and better-targeted support:

• A Starter Pack for Young Farmers will offer a single-entry point at national level, bringing together funding, training and advisory services.
• Installation aid and investment grants will support first-time farm setups and modernisation.
• Financial instruments and EIB-backed loans will make credit more affordable and accessible.
• Higher EU co-financing (up to 85%) will reduce the national burden of youth investment support.
• Favourable tax and legal measures under national frameworks will facilitate establishment and succession.
• Mentoring and advisory support will help young farmers plan viable, resilient businesses.

At least 6% of ring-fenced agricultural spending under future national plans to be dedicated to generational renewal.

Owning: Fair access to land and farm succession

Access to land remains one of the biggest barriers for new entrants. The Strategy promotes fairer, more transparent land markets and earlier farm transfers by:

• Encouraging national land policies that prevent speculation and support young farmers’ access.
• Creating a European Land Observatory to improve transparency on land use, ownership and prices.
• Supporting succession and retirement schemes that enable older farmers to retire with dignity and financial security and transfer farms.
• Prioritising public and municipal land for young farmers and new entrants.
• Integrating succession, pension and land reforms into the European Semester to strengthen coherence between national and EU action.

These measures will make farm transfer smoother and ensure that land stays in the hands of active farmers.

Training: Building skills and innovation capacity

 Generational renewal depends on knowledge, technology and collaboration. The Strategy supports:

• Tailored training and lifelong learning through advisory services and Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS).
• Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs to exchange experience between new and established farmers.
• A Women in Farming platform to promote equal opportunities and mentoring.
• Links with Horizon Europe and the proposed European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) to boost research, innovation and start-up financing.
• Programmes that strengthen digital and financial literacy and access to innovation networks.

These measures will enable the next generation to modernise, diversify and innovate, turning ideas into lasting success.

Living: Making rural life attractive and equal

Farming renewal requires vibrant rural communities. The Strategy promotes:

• Investment in rural infrastructure and services such as childcare, healthcare, transport and broadband.
• Business diversification through agri-tourism, bioeconomy and renewable energy projects.
• Relief services that help farmers balance work, family and training.
• Initiatives like Rural Youth Ambassadors to inspire young people and strengthen rural identity. 

By improving living standards and opportunities, these measures make rural areas places where young people want to stay and build their future.

Working together: Ensuring lasting change

Long-term renewal requires joint commitment at EU, national and regional levels:

• Each Member State will prepare a comprehensive strategy for generational renewal as part of its National and Regional Partnership Plan.
• These plans will identify entry barriers, define support measures, and set concrete national objectives for young farmers.
• The European Commission will monitor progress, provide CAP recommendations, and use the European Semester to reinforce reforms in particular on land and pensions
• Member States will report regularly on results and adjust where needed to keep pace with Europe’s common goals.

This coordinated framework will ensure accountability, coherence and continuity, turning policy ambition into practical support for Europe’s next generation of farmers.

Shaped with Europe’s youth and farming community

Generational renewal emerged as a top priority in the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture, where farmers, Member States, EU institutions and youth organisations agreed on the urgency to act.

The Strategy was shaped through broad consultations, with particular attention to young farmers and rural youth. Through a structured and dedicated Youth Policy Dialogue, their experiences and ideas directly informed EU action, ensuring that the next generation is not only supported but actively involved in shaping the future of European agriculture.

Hear from the next generation

Tell your story

Discover how young farmers, rural entrepreneurs, and community leaders across Europe are transforming agriculture and revitalising rural areas. These stories highlight their innovation, determination, and the positive change they bring to their communities.

• 7 March 2025

Anja Fortuna: Advocating for rural youth in Europe

From a small village in Slovenia’s Prealps to the heart of Brussels, Anja Fortuna has dedicated her career to ensuring that young people in rural areas have a voice in European policymaking.

• 11 February 2025

Ivan Lauc: Innovating short food supply chains for a sustainable future

Meet Ivan Lauc, a 29-year-old innovator from Osijek, Croatia, and the driving force behind Reducos Software j.d.o.o., a company transforming local food systems through technology.

• 14 January 2025

Elisabeth Hidén: Empowering dairy farming through innovation and tradition

Elisabeth Hidén, a Swedish dairy farmer and agronomist, manages a 450-animal farm producing 2M liters of milk annually. With roots in farming, she champions sustainability, innovation, and community impact.