Assessment of generational renewal strategies across EU Member States

The study explores recent trends in generational renewal across EU agriculture with particular attention to socioeconomic and structural barriers to generational renewal, including those that deepen the gender divide. It compiles and classifies policy instruments, highlighting successful strategies and good practices that could be replicated across Member States, including those supporting female farm succession.

Covering all 27 Member States, the study focuses on the 2023-2027 CAP programming period, but also draws on earlier CAP periods to provide historical policy context.

A mixed-methods approach combined interviews, case studies, a survey of young farmers and aspiring new farmers, and documentary analysis to assess how generational renewal is being addressed across the EU.

Official data and literature were reviewed at the EU level to identify overarching trends and policy developments. At the national level, in all 27 Member States, CAP Strategic Plans were examined, and interviews were conducted with national stakeholders to map relevant instruments addressing the identified barriers. In-depth investigation in 11 Member States provided further insights into specific challenges and gender-focused strategies.

The study confirms that generational renewal continues to pose a major challenge for EU agriculture, as evidenced by the scientific literature and official statistics. Most Member States continue to face an ageing farming population, low entry rates of young farmers and enduring gender disparities, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas, labour-intensive sectors and small-sized farms.

While some countries have been successful in attracting younger generations into farming, structural barriers such as limited access to land and finance, economic insecurity, rural areas' poor infrastructure and regulatory complexity continue to discourage both young and female successors.

The study finds that the CAP remains the main source of support for generational renewal in the agricultural sector, with most Member States relying on its interventions to address key barriers. National and regional policy instruments supplement CAP measures, particularly by improving access to land and finance, but their effectiveness and targeting vary widely across the Member States.

While some countries have introduced innovative fiscal and regulatory solutions, support for quality of life, female successors and the psycho-social aspects of farm succession remains limited, despite their recognised impact on succession decisions. Current strategies fall short of systematically addressing the gender gap; therefore, more targeted support integrated into the design of interventions is needed to ensure equal access.

Administrative complexity is a recurring challenge across Member States, often hindering coordination and the practical synergy between theoretically complementary policy instruments. Nonetheless, several promising practices have emerged from the study. These include combining different types of support to create more flexible aid systems, providing targeted training and advisory services, facilitating non-family succession and promoting cooperative models for land access and management.