Anga – Giovani di Confagricoltura and Confagricoltura Ferrara have formally urged Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to prioritize agricultural generational renewal ahead of the European Council meeting on October 15 and 16. With the European Union’s next Multiannual Financial Framework up for debate, the organizations demand that funding for young farmers rise to 6% of agricultural spending by 2028, citing an average European farmer age of 57.
The Funding and Structural Realities of Next-Generation Farming
- Target Allocation: Anga requests that the EU earmark a minimum of 6% of agricultural expenditures specifically for generational renewal starting in 2028, compared to the current obligation to destinare ai giovani almeno il 3% del bilancio nazionale per i pagamenti diretti della Pac.
- Asset Concentration: In Emilia-Romagna, 49% of regional agricultural land is managed by operators aged 60 or older, while just 3% is controlled by individuals under 29.
- Acquisition Costs: European arable land averaged 15,224 euros per hectare in 2024, with only 37% of young farmers owning the land they operate.
Brussels Budget Negotiations and the 2028 Financial Framework
The European Council meeting on October 15 and 16 serves as the primary battleground for shaping the next Multiannual Financial Framework, which dictates EU spending priorities for a seven-year cycle. Anga, the youth wing of Confagricoltura, submitted a direct appeal to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to ensure structural funds do not dilute generational renewal initiatives. The organization insists that funding streams must remain explicitly identifiable and protected from competing budgetary pressures throughout the duration of the programming period.
The demographic metrics underscore the pressure facing the sector. Across the European Union, the average age of farm operators sits at 57 years, with individuals under 40 accounting for only 12% of the workforce. Regional disparities compound the challenge. In Emilia-Romagna, operators between 30 and 44 years old manage 15% of the land, while the under-29 demographic holds a mere 3%. Meanwhile, nearly half of the region’s agricultural acreage rests in the hands of individuals aged 60 and older.
| Demographic / Financial Metric | Data Point | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Average Age of Farmers | 57 years | European Union |
| Farmers Under 40 | 12% | European Union |
| Arable Land Price (2024) | 15,224 euros / hectare | European Union |
| Young Farmers Owning Land | 37% | European Union |
| Land Managed by Under-29s | 3% | Emilia-Romagna |
| Land Managed by Ages 30–44 | 15% | Emilia-Romagna |
| Land Managed by Ages 60+ | 49% | Emilia-Romagna |
Capital Access and Land Acquisition Barriers
Carlo Alberto Curzola, president of Anga Ferrara, emphasized that encouraging market entry requires addressing the significant financial exposure and risk profile borne by new operators. Entering the sector demands major capital outlays that traditional lending channels often restrict for new market entrants lacking established balance sheets. To counteract this, Anga advocates for subsidized loans, financial instruments backed by guarantees, and expanded cooperation with the European Investment Bank.
Land availability presents an equally formidable barrier. With arable land averaging 15,224 euros per hectare across the EU in 2024, and only 37% of young farmers owning their cultivated plots, acquisition remains out of reach for many. Confagricoltura Ferrara and its youth division are pressing for targeted tax reliefs, business transfer incentives, and the strengthening of initiatives like the Land Bank to facilitate property succession.
Regulatory Certainty for Long-Term Agricultural Investment
Claudia Guidi, president of Confagricoltura Ferrara, highlighted that structural policies must extend beyond initial entry grants to ensure sustained enterprise viability. Guidi noted that while Emilia-Romagna displays positive retention rates among young agricultural entrepreneurs, this trajectory relies entirely on regulatory predictability. Frequent policy shifts and rising bureaucratic obligations undermine the capacity of young business owners to map out ten-to-twenty-year capital expenditure plans.
As the European Council finalizes its multiannual budgetary parameters, the agricultural sector faces a definitive window to secure ring-fenced resources. Without binding structural guarantees and streamlined administrative frameworks, capital formation among younger operators risks stalling across key European production hubs.
