Pilot Project Exchange Programme for Young Farmers

Transcription

1 Pilot Project Exchange Programme for Young Farmers Needs of young farmers in EU-28 Carolien de Lauwere, LEI Final conference Pilot Project Exchange Schemes for young farmers Brussels, October 2015

2 Contents Background Approach Needs of young farmers general knowledge needs sources used for knowledge and information awareness and participation in exchange schemes hindrances to obtain information or participate in an exchange scheme Conclusions These results are preliminary and have not yet been approved by DG AGRI

3 Background Farmers face a lot of challenges: sustainable growth Appropriate technical and economic training Young farmers can contribute the most to fostering innovation and resource-efficiency (Dellapasqua, 2010) High investments in the start-up phase, difficulties in accessing finance and small turnover in the first years, prolonged generation renewal and diminished access to land can reduce the interest of young farmers in entering into te sector Overview of CAP reform : only 14% of EU farmers are younger than 40 years of age (European Commission, 2013) Training should be fine-tuned to the (knowledge) needs of young farmers

4 Approach Literature review on the needs of young farmers Approach In-depth Interviews with stakeholders in EU-28 in 2014 Survey among 2,205 young farmers in EU-28 in 2014 One focus group in each Member State

5 Needs of young farmers in EU-28 EU-28

6 % of young farmers having difficulty to obtain land

7 Knowledge needs of interviewed young farmers Obtain specific technological knowledge necessary for the farm Develop a farm strategy Skills related to applying for subsidies/ grants/ credit Financial skills Management skills Communication skills Networking skills/ ability to create partnership Resource and nature/ environment management Marketing skills Skills related to the improvement of animal welfare Foreign languages 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% New MS EU15 All countries EU-28

8 % of young farmers who like to develop entrepreneurial skills technological & managerial skills

9 Knowledge sources used by the interviewed young farmers Reading and looking for information on the internet Field days/ excursion Individual advice Visiting fairs/ exhibitions etc. (agricultural) training or course Farmers journal Participating in workshops/ seminars/ conferences Joining a study group or network Participation in an exchange scheme Social media Participating in discussions on the internet Online training/ e-learning through the internet 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% New MS EU15 All EU-28 countries

10 % of young farmers who liked to obtain knowledge through e-learning, social media, e-discussions searching on internet

11 Information sources for young farmers EU-28

12 % of young farmers obtaining knowledge from Other farmers

13 Hindrances for obtaining information Lack of time

14 Expectations of and participation in exchange schemes % of young farmers who think positively of exchange schemes % of young farmers who actually participated in an exchange scheme

15 Most important hindrances for joining an exchange scheme Lack of time No replacement on my farm Lack of money Language barrier Lack of knowledge 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% New MS EU15 All EU-28 countries

16 General and knowledge needs of young farmers Land to buy or to rent is the most important general need, followed by access to credits, subsidies and qualified labour Obtaining technological skills and skills to develop a farm strategy are the most important knowledge needs young farmers still have a technological focus/ are production oriented Reading and looking for information on the internet, field days or excursions and individual advice are the most popular knowledge sources Online training or e-learning, joining discussions on the internet and social media are less important Other farmers, farmers associations and agricultural consultants are the most important information sources Lack of time is the most important hindrance to obtain information

17 Identified needs for exchange schemes Participation in an exchange scheme is low (17.5% of the interviewed young farmers), but the young farmers who joined an exchange scheme are content about it Most young farmers have a positive attitude to and high expectations of exchange schemes Most young farmers interviewed think that joining an exchange scheme will improve their farm results and their management, networking and marketing skills and will be a valuable experience for them Lack of time and having no replacement on the farm seem to be the most important hindrances to join an exchange scheme

18 Factors affecting the needs of young farmers Knowledge infrastructure/ educational system Legal status country Education level area sector

19 Conclusions and recommendations on needs of young farmers In general, the knowledge needs are higher in a country if the knowledge infrastructure is not very well organised and a well functioning educational system is lacking Young farmers in new Member States are more eager to obtain all kind of knowledge and have a higher intention to join an exchange scheme Knowledge needs are higher in more intensive, specialised agricultural sectors and in less favourable areas Higher educated young farmers have more interest in acquiring knowledge and participating in an exchange scheme Farm owners are less eager to obtain knowledge or join an exchange scheme and more often use discussions on the internet, e-learning and social media Knowledge should be tailor-made and tuned to the specific needs of young farmers

20 Thank you! Questions? More info Ecorys Netherlands LEI Wageningen UR

21 Conference Programme Day 1 15 October 2015: First Session: The needs of young farmers Carolien de Lauwere, LEI (Netherlands) Coffee break Juha Tenho, European Councile of Young Farmers (CEJA) Balint Pem, President of the Association of Slovak Young Farmers (Slovakia) Dinner cocktail at Bloom