The European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) published, on Wednesday 15 July, its new foresight paper, ‘A Social Agenda for Generational Renewal in Agriculture’ which sets out a long-term vision on how to make farming more attractive and resilient across Europe.
For CEJA, the attractiveness of the profession does not depend solely on the economic viability of farms, but also on quality of life in rural areas.
It is calling for a broader approach to generational renewal, incorporating access to healthcare, pensions, mental health, farm relief services, occupational safety and the work-life balance. Agriculture must be not only economically viable, but also socially sustainable, according to CEJA, which is proposing eight lines of action, such as developing relief services, better access to public services in rural areas, suitable social protection arrangements, increased support for mental health, as well as measures to promote equality between women and men and better working conditions.
As the next generation of agricultural policies approaches, CEJA wants these social dimensions to be incorporated into the future CAP, notably in the National and Regional Partnership Plans and in support for young farmers.
To see the document: https://aeur.eu/f/mwr (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)