Who Will Farm Europe’s Future? VistaMilk Workshop to Help Shape Next Generation Agricultural Policy
MEP Maria Walsh joined European Stakeholders at a VistaMilk Policy Workshop on Generational Renewal in Brussels today, Thursday, 25 June, to contribute to recommendations for the next Common Agricultural Policy.
Pictured at a VistaMilk workshop on ‘Shaping the Future of Generational Renewal in the CAP’, which took place in Brussels today, Thursday, 25 June were (left to right): Dr. Tomás Russell, Assistant Professor in Agricultural Extension and Innovation, UCD; MEP Maria Walsh, EPP, rapporteur on Generational Renewal; Professor Mary McCarthy, Vice Dean of Research and Innovation at UCC Business School; and Dr. Conor Hogan, People in Dairy Programme, Teagasc.
VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre for Science and Digital Innovation in Pasture-based Dairy hosted an international policy workshop focused on one of the most pressing challenges facing European agriculture: ensuring a new generation of farmers can successfully enter and thrive within the sector.
The workshop, ‘Shaping the Future of Generational Renewal in the CAP’, has brought together policymakers, researchers, agricultural organisations and stakeholders from across Europe to explore how future agricultural policy can better support generational renewal.
A key outcome of the workshop will be the development of a report containing recommendations for policymakers at the European Commission. The event is particularly relevant given the participation of Irish MEP Maria Walsh, the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on the report on Generational Renewal in Agriculture.
The workshop featured contributions from leading experts working across policy, research and farmer representation, including MEP Maria Walsh, Marion Picot of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA), Dr Conor Hogan of Teagasc and VistaMilk, Dr Tomás Russell of VistaMilk and University College Dublin, Dr Brian Leonard of University College Dublin, and Dr Federica Consentino of the University of Catania.
Participants explored key issues influencing generational renewal across Europe, including the attractiveness of agriculture as a career, barriers to entry for young farmers, and the role of collaborative farming models in supporting farm succession and business development.
The event also showcased research being conducted through VistaMilk, with interactive workshops facilitated by PhD researchers working in the area. Pádraig Lacey, a VistaMilk PhD student, facilitated one of the stakeholder workshops focused on identifying practical solutions to support generational renewal across European agriculture. These sessions provided stakeholders with an opportunity to share experiences and perspectives that will directly inform the recommendations presented in the final report.
The event builds on ongoing VistaMilk-supported research examining the future workforce needs of Irish dairy farming. Through a collaborative PhD programme part-funded by industry stakeholders, researchers are investigating factors that influence people to go into roles within agriculture. The research aims to provide evidence-based insights to support workforce development and long-term sector resilience.
Dr Tomás Russell, Assistant Professor in UCD, who is one of the organisers of the event, said; “Generational renewal is about more than farm succession. It is about ensuring agriculture remains an attractive, viable and rewarding career choice for future generations. Through research and engagement activities, we are working to generate the evidence needed to support effective policy and practical solutions that will help secure the long-term future of the sector.”
The workshop reflects VistaMilk’s commitment to ensuring research contributes not only to scientific advancement, but also to evidence-informed policy development that addresses real-world challenges facing the agri-food sector.