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#eaAgriFood Twitter chat: How can EU farming attract the new generations?

25-02-2019

#eaAgriFood Twitter chat: How can EU farming attract the new generations?

The discussion about the generational renewal of EU farming has taken centre stage in Brussels, especially in the talks about the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

According to European Commission data, around 22.2 million people work on 10.3 million farms in the EU agriculture sector. While the average age of farmers was 49.2 years in 2004, it rose to 51.4 years in 2014.

There were 10.3 million people working as farm managers in the EU in 2016. The average age of farmers is very much at the older end of the age spectrum; one third (32%) of farm managers in the EU were 65 years old or more. Only 11% of farm managers in the EU were under 40.

However, there are differences among the 28 member states.
Analysts warn that the lack of young farmers could negatively affect future EU competitiveness and food production.

We’re inviting you to a #eaAgriFood twitter chat where we’re challenging you to answer following questions:

Q1 What are the main challenges the new generation faces when attempting to enter EU farming?
Q2 Why is the new generation necessary for EU rural areas and farming?
Q3 Is the new CAP proposal ambitious enough to bring young people back to rural areas?
Q4 Do new technologies have a role to play in attracting young people to farming?
Q5 How can the media promote living in rural areas across Europe?

What is a Twitter chat and how to join it?

A Twitter Chat is a discussion between Twitter users that get online at a pre-arranged date and time to discuss a specific topic that uses a designated #hashtag (for this chat it’s #eaAgriFood).

The host of the Twitter Chat posts questions that are usually identified as Q1, Q2 and so on, to prompt answers, which are usually identified as A1, A2 and so on, from the participants. The host of this edition will be @eaAgriFood, so make sure to follow the account.

Twitter Chats usually last about an hour. The hashtag links the questions and answers in a virtual conversation. The best way to see the entire conversation is to search for the hashtag #eaAgriFood on twitter and switch to the "latest tweets" tab.

DISCLAIMER: This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein

Supported by:

European Union Agri

Location

Twitter #eaAgriFood
Find us on Twitter by searching for #eaAgriFood

Panellists

@paolodecastro - MEP, vice-chair of the AGRI Committee
@marijana_petir - MEP, Member of the AGRI Committee
@PaulBrannenNE - MEP, substitute in the Agri committee
@AgriAware - Irish agri-food educational body
@COPACOGECA - Union of the agricultural umbrella organisations COPA and COGECA
@_CEJA_ - European Council of Young Farmers
@ColdirettiG - The youth branch of Coldiretti, the largest association representing the interests of italian agricultors
@BruselasAsaja - Permanent Representation of ASAJA (Spanish Farmers Union) to the EU
@potato_market - The first online potato market for producers and buyers.
@ARC2020eu - NGO of agricultural and rural actors
@savignygenevi - Member of European Economic and Social Committee

Moderator

@eaAgriFood - The Twitter account of EURACTIV's Agriculture and & Food Hub

Schedule

12:30 Start of #eaAgriFood Twitter Chat
13:30 End of #eaAgriFood Twitter Chat
The times are in CET (Brussels time)