Thematic Group on the Economic Vulnerability of Farming
This Thematic Group will share analysis, insights, experiences, and innovative ideas on the drivers of economic vulnerability, how challenges are being addressed, and how policy mechanisms under the CAP are used for addressing economic vulnerabilities in farming.
The agricultural sector is a cornerstone of the European Union, contributing significantly to rural livelihoods, cultural heritage, and food security. With approximately 10 million farms spread across diverse geographical areas, the EU's agricultural landscape is characterised by a wide variety of farming systems, ranging from large-scale agribusinesses to small family farms. Farming activities provide employment for millions of people, and are fundamental to the vitality of rural and island communities across the European Union.
Farming faces significant economic challenges, with issues such as price volatility, rising input costs, and increasing competition from global markets, all contributing to a complex environment for European farmers. Additionally, the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are already negatively impacting agricultural production. These challenges are particularly acute for smaller farms and farmers in economically disadvantaged or geographically challenging regions. Such businesses are often constrained by limited economies of scale, reduced access to finance and technology, and a higher dependency on subsidies, making them particularly vulnerable to economic and environmental or climate related shocks.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) provides several mechanisms for risk prevention and risk management with a focus on supporting farmers to build up resilience by mitigating the impacts of crises and being able to better respond to these challenges, including through direct payments, productive and non-productive investments, and risk management tools. Despite this support, the economic viability of many farming enterprises remains uncertain, especially those operating in regions with lower productivity potential or under more challenging conditions.
This Thematic Group (TG) is an opportunity for you to be part of a committed group of experts and relevant stakeholders that will explore various issues associated with the economic vulnerability of farming, including risk management, and society and the environment. TG members will also consider how challenges can be overcome by farm businesses, e.g. through new ways of working, the application of risk management tools, and the use of income support tools. The group will also consider how the CAP currently addresses, or could better address, economic vulnerabilities.
Objectives
The objectives of this TG are to:
- Discuss what we mean by the economic vulnerability of farming, and identify the drivers of vulnerability.
- Consider how farm-based businesses are capitalising on the possibilities for overcoming the challenges associated with farming's vulnerability.
- Discuss the effectiveness of current CAP interventions/frameworks to address economic vulnerabilities, consider how such approaches are implemented, and how they can be enhanced, or new ones developed.
The TG will consist of a small (around 40) but dedicated cross-section of informed and engaged stakeholders, including farming organisations, farm-based businesses, farm advisors, technical expertise (such as insurance companies, and managers of mutual funds), policymakers, and wider rural stakeholders from across Europe at regional, national and EU level. Participants will commit to engaging in two meetings and related activities, ensuring diverse perspectives and active contributions to achieving the TG's objectives.
- The first meeting will take place online on Wednesday 22 January 2025;
- The second meeting will take place in person (in Brussels) on Tuesday 8 April 2025.
There is no charge for attendance at these meetings. However, for the in-person meeting, travel and accommodation costs may only be covered for TG members representing farmers, farmer organisations, LEADER Local Action Groups, European and national non-governmental organisations, and researchers/Universities. All other TG members will need to pay for their own travel and accommodation costs.
The meetings will be held in English without interpretation.
Expressions of interest can be submitted through the button below until 15 December 2024 at the latest.
In case of over-subscription, participants will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:
Necessary
- Experience and/or knowledge related to issues associated with the economic vulnerability of farming, e.g. income support and risk management;
- Capacity and willingness to engage, network, and exchange effectively at national, regional, and local levels;
- Firm commitment to participate in two meetings of the Thematic Group and the activities in between;
- Represent either Managing Authorities (MAs), National Networks (NNs), Paying Agencies (PAs), insurance companies, mutual fund managers, farming organisations, advisors, farmers, rural businesses, non-governmental or research organisations;
- Ability to communicate clearly in English without interpretation.
Desirable
- Commitment to share design and implementation models and best practices with other members during the TG activities;
- Commitment to share TG outputs with other colleagues or networks outside of the TG.
Please note that, when selecting the Thematic Group members from the expressions of interest, the EU CAP Network will – to the extent possible – also consider the need to ensure a balance of participants from EU Member States, sectors and topics, and gender. Successful applicants will receive a confirmation of participation as soon as possible, and before 20 December 2024 at the latest.
Since places are limited, and in the interest of fairness, successful applicants are asked to commit to participate in the TG activities. In case of unforeseen circumstances, TG members must inform the organisers as soon as possible if they are unavailable to attend a TG meeting. Non-attendance without prior notice may result in exclusion from future Thematic Groups and other EU CAP Network events.
If you have any questions, please contact us at thematicgroup3@eucapnetwork.eu.