The European Commission has unveiled an ambitious new initiative – the “Strategy for Generational Renewal in Agriculture”, aiming to double the number of young farmers in the European Union by 2040. This plan is seen as one of the top priorities of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s current term.
The strategy was officially presented on October 21 during the European Parliament’s plenary session, with its main objective to make farming an attractive, secure, and sustainable career path for the next generation.
Demographic crisis in rural areas: the average farmer is 57 years old
According to the European Commission, in 2020 only 12% of EU farmers were under the age of 40, while the average age was 57. This demographic imbalance poses a serious threat to Europe’s food security, environmental sustainability, and rural vitality.
“If young people don’t choose farming, in 20 years we will have no one left to work the land. This is not only a social issue, but a matter of strategic security,”
– notes the Commission’s explanatory document.
The goal: not just numbers, but real change
The new plan seeks not only to increase numbers but also to ensure qualitative renewal. The young generation will be offered greater:
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access to finance,
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opportunities to purchase or lease land,
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advisory services, mentorship, and training,
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social protection and entrepreneurship support,
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a “one-stop-shop” model for easier access to assistance.
The strategy also envisions mechanisms to help older farmers transition smoothly out of the sector, handing their farms over to younger successors.
National plans – by 2028
Under the new strategy, all EU Member States must prepare mandatory national generational renewal strategies by 2028, integrating them into their National Regional Partnership Plans (NRPs).
At least 6% of total agricultural funding will be allocated to support young farmers.
Lithuania: many obstacles for the young generation
In Lithuania, the share of young farmers remains similar to the EU average, but regional disparities are significant.
Young people face major challenges in accessing land, credit, and navigating excessive bureaucracy.
Another critical issue is gender balance – only 2.5% of EU farmers under 40 are women, and Lithuania’s figures are almost identical.
Vytenis Grigas: “Young farmers don’t want subsidies – they want opportunities”
Vytenis Grigas, Board Member of the Lithuanian Young Farmers and Youth Union (LJŪJS), says that the European Commission’s initiative is “an important signal that young people are finally being seen not just as aid recipients, but as the future architects of agriculture.”
“Young farmers don’t want subsidies – they want opportunities: the chance to create, invest, and grow. At present, the road for a young person entering farming is too long and too expensive. We have too much bureaucracy and too little trust. This strategy can change that – if it’s followed by real action, not just declarations,” said Grigas. He also stressed that access to advisory services, land, and credit guarantees should not be treated as privileges but as fundamental rights for every young person who wants to work in agriculture.
Generational renewal – more than a youth issue
Experts emphasize that generational renewal is not merely a demographic challenge, but also an economic, technological, and environmental one. Younger farmers are more likely to adopt sustainable technologies, invest in precision farming, digitalization, and short supply chains. Supporting them, therefore, means investing in a greener and more resilient European economy.
A systemic, not a symbolic solution
The European Commission stresses that agricultural renewal must operate across three interconnected levels:
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The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) – both current and future;
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Other EU policies – including education, regional development, and finance;
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National and regional actions to ensure effective implementation on the ground.
The “Generational Renewal Strategy” could mark a turning point for European and Lithuanian rural areas – but only if political declarations lead to concrete actions.
If Member States truly allocate at least 6% of CAP funds to youth, this could become the first tangible step toward a younger, more innovative, and sustainable European agriculture.
“The countryside must become a place where people want to build their future, not run away from it. That’s our shared responsibility,” – said Vytenis Grigas.