What's in a Name? Defining New Entrants to Farming

Abstract

SummaryNew entrants to farming are eligible for CAP targeted supports. The intention of these supports is to promote innovativeness and sustainability in the agricultural sector through generational renewal. However, new entrants (successors or those completely new into the industry), still face multiple barriers above other longstanding farmers, including lack of access to necessary capital, land and housing. There is also ambiguity about the success of new entrant supports in achieving their stated objectives. We draw on results from an online survey distributed to anyone involved in farming in Europe, including European new entrants and those working in new entrant support services. Survey respondents were asked how they would define a ‘new entrant farmer’. A clear majority of respondents indicated that new entrants should be new to the industry; that is, not successors to existing farm businesses. A substantial minority of respondents indicated that new entrants should be establishing innovative new businesses, with an overlapping cohort emphasising sustainability. Very few respondents identified age as an important criterion. We argue that the new entrant definition utilised in policy supports could be more targeted towards policy objectives, distinguishing social justice supports (enabling newcomers to enter the sector), from supports for innovation (e.g. venture capital funds) and sustainability (greening the CAP).

An Agricultural Career through the Lens of Young People

“…The shortage of new generation involvement in farming is often associated with a lack of successors [6,80]. However, recent literature is broadening the discussion of the participation of youth from diverse backgrounds that are commonly named new entrants for the distinguished, and those that are successors or potentially may be [81]. It is about supporting first-generation farms run by young people who lack experience, but are strongly motivated to become their own bosses, and can bring innovative new ideas.…”