Young farmers are key to the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) has said.
In response to ongoing efforts to redefine the CAP, CEJA has released its vision in the document 'Young Farmers are Key in the Future CAP'.
CEJA’s document represents nearly two years’ worth of work from CEJA members, and is the culmination of a final summary document, as well as the seven position papers which were used to create it.
CEJA President Alan Jagoe said: “It has not addressed the key area of generational renewal. It is for this reason that I ask you now to channel your inner young farmer and be bold and ambitious for the next CAP.”
Generational renewal
CEJA’s plan focuses on the three key areas where change must happen. Generational renewal, progressive environmental measures and sustainable economic support.
It is through developments in these areas that young farmers across the EU aim to ensure jobs, growth and investment in rural communities, as well as making rural areas places where people will want to live and work.
Mr Jagoe said: “Civil society will see that the CAP is good value for money, while farmers, the environment and the consumer will ultimately all be the winners together.”
The document describes how to distribute the new and enlarged CAP budget: 20% to be allocated to various measures and instruments specifically targeted to Generational Renewal; 50% to be allocated to Sustainable Economic Support and 30% to be allocated to Proactive and progressive environmental measures.
More than 250,000 people and over 600 organisations said the European Union must 'fundamentally rethink' the CAP.
