CEJA welcomes 2014 as the UN International Year of Family Farming and highlights importance of young farmers as future of model

CEJA, the European Council of Young Farmers, welcomes the United Nations’ (UN) initiative of making 2014 the International Year of Family Farming and commits to contributing to the promotion of family farming and raising awareness of its role in the world throughout the coming year. As both the present and future of the family farming model, young farmers are particularly important to the debate. The UN International Year of Family Farming must raise awareness of this issue in order to change the agricultural policy framework across the globe, making the sector more financially attractive to young people through the use of public support, shorter supply chains and better access to land, credit and markets. Succession in family farming must be eased and promoted in order to reverse the ageing trend in the agricultural population and secure future food production in Europe and beyond.

 As an associate member of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) and the chair of its young farmers’ committee, CEJA will contribute to the initiative through the WFO’s seat on the UN Steering Committee on Family Farming and place special emphasis on the dependence the model has on young people. It is essential that youth and young farmers take centre stage in the debate, considering the increasingly ageing farming population across the world but especially in Europe. In the face of growing demand and environmental concerns, it is also essential that the demographic trend is reversed in order to increase the use of research and technology in agriculture, enhancing both productivity and sustainability in food production.