Assessing Generational Renewal in CAP Strategic Plans

The main objective of the Good Practice Workshop was to provide participants with the opportunity to gather and share knowledge on how generational renewal can be evaluated. Building on previous experiences and the current PMEF, the workshop aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of methods and approaches used when assessing generational renewal. Special attention was given to the gender dimension and how it can be incorporated into CAP evaluations.

The report details the exchange of practical experiences in conducting generational renewal evaluations in EU Member States (e.g., Malta, Spain and Italy).

Some of the key messages that were reflected during the event include considering how the CAP will respond to various threats (e.g., demographic changes, land prices, etc.) posed to agricultural sectors that are severely impacted by the need for generational renewal.

Participants also discussed how to meet ambitious targets set at both national and EU levels for supporting young and new farmers during the CAP 2023-2027 programming period.

When evaluating generational renewal, it is crucial to consider both external and internal coherence, including how national policies complement the CAP, given that previous evaluations suggest that CAP measures are most effective when relevant national initiatives are also in place.

Participants also noted that policy effects were not linked solely to the choice of interventions but also to their design, thereby increasing the need to learn more about how to improve the design of support in the future, for example through targeting certain farm sizes and sectors or revising support rates. Evaluations should also assess the extent to which transferred farms are more sustainable, as well as the extent to which policy contributed to the improvement in the performance and development of farms.

Lastly, participants in the Good Practice Workshop in Zagreb underlined that the gender dimension should not be forgotten, and Member States are to define how to assess gender. For example, evaluations may highlight gender-specific measures and good practices, and identify reasons behind gender gaps when relevant (e.g., how eligibility conditions affect women).