00:00Young Belgian farmer Matteo Godfrio hopes one day to take over the family farm.
00:05This mixed crop livestock operation boasting around 40 dairy cows is located in Dionlemont, not far from Brussels.
00:12The 23-year-old plans to be a helper for two years, a status that allows him to train in the field
00:18and maximize his chances of accessing financial aid necessary to take over the management of the business.
00:30If you have 23 years old and you want to take a farm, I don't think the bank would agree
00:34that you would leave a million, a million five, if not more, to take a farm, which is not really rentable.
00:41Across the European Union, only 12% of farmers are under the age of 40.
00:46The average age is 57, and that aging population of farmers presents a risk for food security, the European Commission has warned.
00:54Last month, the Commission presented a strategy to support generational renewal in agriculture.
01:01It proposes to include in the next common agricultural policy a start-up pack of up to 300,000 euros to help young farmers get started.
01:11Other measures include the opening of the Erasmus Programme for Young Entrepreneurs to Farmers
01:16and the creation of a European Land Observatory to promote access to land.
01:22The objective, to double the proportion of young farmers in the EU by 2040.
01:27For Matteo, the best way to encourage young people to start or stay in agriculture is to ensure fair prices.
01:33No, but at the same time, the price, the debt will be paid as much as it is, it will motivate people.
01:42It's because we are all in it and we are passionate about it, but to produce a lait at 40 centimes
01:47while it costs 50 cents, it will motivate someone to do it.
01:51To produce meat at low price because we don't want to pay, with an emprunt, a million on our heads,
01:58we will find someone who will be motivated to do it.
02:00Matteo stressed that consumers have an important role to play by buying local products.
Comments