Meeting the challenge of generational renewal in mountain farming

The European Commission is preparing in 2025 a Strategy to boost generational renewal in the agricultural sector, which is expected to address demographic challenges by ensuring a better access to land, credit and rural services (among other objectives).

Euromontana welcomes the European Commission’ intention to develop such strategy, but call for strong schemes to be integrated in to the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy and strengthen cooperation within Member States and regions.

Our demands within and outside the Common Agricultural Policy are structured around the following recommendations:

• Stronger CAP for young farmers: increase CAP funding for young farmers, with tailored aid for women, new entrants, and mountain areas.
• More support for mountain farming: allocate 15% of CAP to mountain areas and adapt measures to prevent land abandonment.
• Better advice and succession tools: expand advisory services, test farms, and succession support to ease farm takeovers.
• Target regional funds for rural areas: dedicate 25% of EU funds to rural areas, including 10% for mountains, to improve services and infrastructure.
• Smarter, rural-proofed policies: apply rural proofing, improve land data, and ensure joined-up policies for young rural populations.
• Promote farming careers and mobility: invest in rural education, vocational training, and exchange programmes to make farming attractive.