The impact of the Common Agricultural Policy’s (CAP) generational renewal measures on the number of young farmers is generally positive, but limited in some regions, especially those lacking basic infrastructure and services.
This is the conclusion reached in a document (https://bit.ly/3wGbZqW ) published on Thursday 8 April by the European Commission, which assesses the impact of the CAP on generational renewal, local development and jobs in rural areas.
Generational renewal measures cannot be assessed in isolation from other EU policies, wider socio-economic conditions and national measures and regulations.
The CAP’s generational renewal measures improve the performance of farm businesses, their resilience, and the secure transfer of farms from the older generation to the younger generation. However, instead of encouraging farm succession, these measures are more likely to increase the socio-economic sustainability of farms after young farmers have set-up their businesses, according to the assessment. In addition, these CAP measures are not well suited to farm transfers outside the family.
Access to land and capital is the main barrier to entry into the agricultural sector.
Although the level of training of young farm managers under 35 has increased, in 2016 only 43% of young farmers had received more than practical training. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)