Event - Thematic Group meeting

1st meeting of the Thematic Group on Gen Z: Leading Generational Renewal in Farming

This was the 1st meeting of the Thematic Group on Gen Z: Leading Generational Renewal in Farming. The event enabled you to assess the necessary changes in both policy and practice to foster greater engagement of young people in agriculture.

Highlights report

Organised by EU CAP Network
23 Oct 2024, 09:00 - 23 Oct 2024, 16:30 CEST
English
Brussels, Belgium
In-person

young farmer holding crops while talking on the phone

In the evolving landscape of agriculture, young people are crucial in shaping the future of farming and rural areas. Future farmers and rural areas must be deeply integrated, with agricultural activities embedded in local economic and social environments. Generational renewal goes beyond merely reducing the average age of farmers in the EU. It involves understanding the needs and aspirations of young people living in rural areas, who could drive the future of farming and vice versa. It is important to empower the new generation of young farmers to harness the full benefits of technology and innovation for sustainable farming practices in Europe.

Building on existing groundwork, the TG aimed to explore the key characteristics of future farmers from the perspective of young people. This TG had Generation Z as its main target group, as they are the ones looking towards their future.

The first meeting aimed to:

Introduce the Thematic Group and its members, outlining the mission and objectives of the group. 
Review the challenges and opportunities facing young people in rural areas who aspire to or are involved in agriculture, as well as existing CAP measures.
Discuss the role of networks and communities in rural areas and their importance for young people.
Explore the key characteristics and roles of future farmers, including aspects such as farm size, production methods, economic, social and environmental sustainability and rural contexts.
Co-design the next steps of the TG (in-between meetings and second TG meeting) with participants.

To follow the work of this Thematic Group, please visit this page regularly, subscribe to our monthly newsletter, and follow us on social media (#GenerationalRenewal).