CEJA is the voice of Europe’s next generation of farmers and represents more than 22 million young farmers across the continent.
Through continued engagement via the BAB office and the NFU Next Generation Forum, we still have a strong presence and interest in the important group which secured us an invite to the conference, kindly hosted in association with Irish young farmers association, Macra na Feirme.
Smart farmers for smart farming
The theme of the conference was smart farming, with a focus on what is needed for the sustainable development of the sector, including what technological, educational and financial tools are needed by young farmers.
We were thrilled to join delegates from across Europe to fly the flag for Britain’s next generation of farmers. And with 2023 being the European Union Year of Skills, there has never been such an apt time to engage in discussions.
Sharing experiences
A key part of the conference was policy development. Diana Lenzi – CEJA President and a young farmer from Tuscany - introduced us to the CEJA policy paper on “Smart Farmers for Smart Farming”. Delegates highlighted the growing need for education in technology and developing skills on the ground, alongside greater access to finance and investments to help younger farmers access land, machinery and equipment. We welcomed the opportunity to provide thoughts and input from the UK perspective, which will be incorporated into the paper and positively influence EU agricultural policy.
Young farmers are integral to the future of the industry. In 10 years’ time, more than half of farmers in the EU will be over 65, and we unanimously agreed the need to inspire and encourage young people across the industry. Hearing experiences on how other countries are doing this was hugely inspiring. Italy’s National Day of Food Education provided some particular food for thought (no pun intended!).
In addition to policy discussions, we also heard from experts in technology, education, and finance during panel discussions.
“Visiting farms in Ireland and meeting colleagues from across Europe was a fantastic opportunity to discuss shared challenges, of which there have been no shortage of recently. But, there are also significant opportunities in our sector, and there is a great deal of excitement amongst young farmers.”
Eveey Hunter, NFU Next Generation Forum Chair.
Out on farm
After sitting in the conference room, we were glad to get out on farm and breath the famously fresh Irish air.
Our first visit took us to Dowth Farm in County Meath – who claim to be the world’s first carbon neutral suckler beef farm. We heard how the farm achieved this by integrating multispecies swards and leys, which alongside increasing carbon sequestration, has also bolstered the farm’s biodiversity.
Next up was a visit to a dairy farm near Kilsallaghan. Having recently installed a state-of-the-art Dairymaster parlour, we heard how the farm's efficiency had improved and reduced milking time. This, coupled with automatic feeders and backing gate system, showcased how new technologies can work in practise to increase productivity and profitability on farm.
Shared challenges, but shared solutions
Our sector is characterised by enthusiastic and engaged young people. However, young farmers across the continent in particular are at the coalface of numerous challenges including inflationary pressures, succession and access to finance.
The conference demonstrated that the sector is in need of more enthusiastic and engaged young people who are adequately supported financially, but also in terms of skills and education.
“The conference provided a fantastic opportunity to share ideas with colleagues from across Europe. I learned a lot, and I look forward to bringing back fresh ideas and enthusiasm to the UK.”
Liv Richardson, NFU Next Generation Forum vice chair.