Why young people matter
Young people play an essential role in ensuring the future sustainability and competitiveness of Europe’s agricultural sector and rural areas. Their contributions are key to addressing challenges such as climate change, rural depopulation, and the economic viability of farming. The EU is committed to supporting young people through tailored funding, training opportunities, and initiatives that encourage innovation and generational renewal.
Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Europe’s economy and rural communities. Ensuring the active involvement of young people helps secure long-term sustainability, economic growth, and vibrant rural regions.
Fairness and predictability are essential if we want to attract a new generation of farmers. ... Fair pay for fair work! ... We also want to stimulate the uptake of innovation and new business models, like bioeconomy, as a complementary source of income. ... We need to remove barriers to generational renewal, like farmers' access to land, capital, and skills.
This commitment highlights the EU’s goal to create opportunities for young people and ensure they have access to the resources and support needed to succeed.
The Vision outlines a Generational Renewal strategy aimed at attracting young people to farming by enhancing the appeal of the agricultural sector.
It also establishes the necessary conditions for European agriculture and rural areas to thrive, innovate, and continue benefiting society now and through 2040.
Young people in numbers
Young farmers and rural youth face significant challenges but also hold immense potential.
Young farmers
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) plays a critical role in empowering young farmers and supporting generational renewal across Europe. As part of CAP Strategic Plans, generational renewal is included as one of the 44 “result indicators” set by the CAP legislation and linked to the 10 specific objectives. According to targets, up to 377 000 young farmers will set-up with support from the CAP.
Farmers under the age of 40 only manage 12% of all farm holdings in the EU, of which female young farmers represent only 3%. The share of farmers in the 25-44 age group dropped from 23% in 2010 to 19% in 2020.
The EU is investing in generational renewal to provide young people with opportunities to build commercially viable enterprises and contribute to sustainable rural communities.
Young people in rural areas
The proportion of young people in rural areas is decreasing. According to Eurostat data, in recent years the number of young people in the age group 15-24 has decreased for EU-28 (2013-19) from 3 622.3 to 1 890.2 million and for the age group 25-29 from 6 949.2 to 5 881.3 million.
In order to inform policy-making at European, national and regional levels, and improve the conditions of young people living in rural areas, the Youth Partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe is conducting research on rural youth to better understand the situation of rural youth aged 18-30 in the period 2018-24, as well as relevant policies and youth work services. This study is expected to be published in 2025.
In June 2021, after an extensive consultation, the European Commission set out a long-term vision for the EU's rural areas up to 2040. The report published in March 2024 outlined the good progress made under the rural vision, highlighting positive outcomes delivered since 2021 and presenting ideas for future work. It also provided key evidence on remaining challenges:
- Ageing rural regions: between 2019 and 2022, the population over 65 in rural regions has increased by 1.1 percentage points (0.84 million) while the younger and working age population decreased. The average EU population age is increasing, but rural regions are ageing faster, due to lower natural growth and net migration.
- Closing the gender gap: rural areas have the highest share (12.6%) of young people aged 15–29 who are neither in employment nor in education and training (NEET). Even though the situation has improved, the NEET rate for young women in rural areas in 2022 was 14.9% compared to 10.5% for males.
The Rural Pact is an initiative from the long-term vision for EU’s rural areas aiming at offering a platform of exchange and cooperation to rural stakeholders and citizens. Part of its different activities, the Community Groups are a place of exchange and interaction. Young people are encouraged to join the Youth in rural areas - Empowering the next generation community group.
25% of the EU population live in rural areas. According to Eurostat data, over recent years the number of young people for the age group 15-24 has decreased for EU-28 (2013-19) from 3 622.3 to 1 890.2 million and for the age group 25-29 from 6 949.2 to 5 881.3 million. The Partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of Youth is conducting a survey among people aged 18 to 30 years living in rural areas.
Explore more
Farmers and the agricultural labour force - Eurostat statistics
Urban-rural Europe - demographic developments in rural regions and areas
The Long-term vision for EU’s rural areas
Encouraging education, training and employment opportunities for young people in rural areas
Young people and the CAP
How the CAP supports young farmers
Through tailored funding, training, and knowledge-sharing initiatives, the CAP ensures that young people have the tools they need to establish commercially viable farms and thrive in rural communities.
- EU initiatives: Funding under the CAP includes start-up aid for young farmers, training programmes, and access to advisory services.
- EU CAP Network initiatives: Thematic groups such as Gen Z: Leading Generational Renewal in Farming, connect young farmers and policymakers to promote innovation and collaboration.
Young farmers in the EU can apply for CAP support to the managing authorities, which are listed in their country’s national CAP Strategic Plan. Most EU countries support generational renewal through CISYF under direct payments and via rural development funds call for application.
Tell your story
Discover how young farmers, rural entrepreneurs, and community leaders across Europe are transforming agriculture and revitalising rural areas. These stories highlight their innovation, determination, and the positive change they bring to their communities.
From a small village in Slovenia’s Prealps to the heart of Brussels, Anja Fortuna has dedicated her career to ensuring that young people in rural areas have a voice in European policymaking.
Meet Ivan Lauc, a 29-year-old innovator from Osijek, Croatia, and the driving force behind Reducos Software j.d.o.o., a company transforming local food systems through technology.
Elisabeth Hidén, a Swedish dairy farmer and agronomist, manages a 450-animal farm producing 2M liters of milk annually. With roots in farming, she champions sustainability, innovation, and community impact.
Young voices
Explore this video series showcasing the experiences and innovations of young people in farming and rural areas. From embracing sustainability and addressing environmental challenges to revitalising rural areas, these stories reflect their commitment to shaping the future of Europe’s agriculture.
Krista Medne: Strengthening Rural Youth Voices in LatviaKrista Medne: Strengthening Rural Youth Voices in Latvia 
Malva Myrehed: A Swedish Agronomy Student’s PathMalva Myrehed: A Swedish Agronomy Student’s Path 
Jean Matthieu Thévenot: Growing Organic Seedlings in FranceJean Matthieu Thévenot: Growing Organic Seedlings in France 
Marie-Claire Feller: A Young German Farmer’s JourneyMarie-Claire Feller: A Young German Farmer’s Journey 
Katharina Schobersberger: Austria’s Next-Generation FarmerKatharina Schobersberger: Austria’s Next-Generation Farmer
47. Networking for rural women entrepreneursInsights from Lidia Moroń-Morawska, a rural entrepreneur from Poland, on the EU CAP Network and fostering innovation in agriculture.
43. Generational renewal in Europe’s countrysideA discussion during EU Youth Week with Marie Wallace and Matias Rubio, exploring the role of youth in rural revitalisation.
38. Agri-Food Days: united towards sustainable agricultureAn interview with Peter Meedendorp, Vice-President of CEJA, addressing youth engagement and the future of agri-food systems.
Youth policy dialogue
The Youth Policy Dialogue engages young people in discussions about the future of agriculture and rural areas. The most recent dialogue, held on 11 December 2024, brought together youth representatives and policymakers to address critical topics like economic viability, sustainability, and generational renewal in farming.
These discussions directly inform future EU strategies, ensuring that young voices are at the centre of agricultural policymaking.
Topics addressed:
- Economic viability of the farming sector and entrepreneurship in rural areas
- Sustainability of the food system
- Generational renewal in farming and rural areas
In the coming years, regular youth dialogues with innovative formats and diverse participation will be organised.
On 11 December 2024, Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, attended the EU Youth Policy Dialogue on 'Building together the future of farming, food, and rural areas' in Brussels, Belgium.
Platform to contribute to EU policymaking
The EU Youth Dialogue is a dialogue mechanism between young people and decision makers taking place in the framework of the EU Youth Strategy 2019-27.
The primary objective of Youth Policy Dialogues is to provide a platform for young people to contribute to the EU's policymaking processes. This is part of a wider commitment to giving young people greater freedom and responsibility within European societies and democracies.
