Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze will participate in an informal meeting of EU Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers in Warsaw, Poland, on Sunday and Monday, June 13–14. The topic of the meeting is “Generational renewal as the basis for innovation and modernization in agriculture.” Poland, which will conclude its presidency of the EU Council on June 30, is urging member state ministers to take the aging of rural regions seriously and to act promptly to attract young people to rural areas and the farming profession.
According to Eurostat data, in 2020, up to 57.5% of EU farmers were over 55 years old. The lack of generational renewal in rural areas is seen by Poland as a major obstacle to agricultural competitiveness and food security in Europe. The transfer of farms from older farmers and the establishment of family farms could boost the competitiveness of European agriculture, increase access to agricultural land, enhance environmental responsibility, and also support the older rural population. Farms led by the younger generation tend to be more efficient and more innovative compared to those run by older owners – factors crucial for the sector’s competitiveness. Additionally, the increasing automation, digitalization, and use of artificial intelligence in agriculture require new skills and knowledge. Generational renewal in European agriculture is considered the “key” to accelerating modernization and large-scale innovation in the sector.
In Latvia, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau, the average age of farm managers in 2020 was 57.3 years (compared to 55.7 years in 2010). The proportion of younger managers decreased by 15 percent between 2010 and 2020.