Alderman Arnold Hatch, ECR member and Rapporteur for the Commission on Natural Resources' (NAT) opinion on 'supporting young European farmers', saw his work unanimously adopted by members of the European Committee of the Regions during the CoR's recent plenary session, which was attended by Phil Hogan, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Councillor Hatch, representing Armagh, Banbridge and Craighavon Council in Northern Ireland, received widespread support across the political spectrum for his own-initiative opinion on the 9 February, which calls for reducing barriers to farming that will inspire and encourage more young people to pursue a career in agriculture.

Underlining the importance of focusing on young farmers for the future of urban areas and food security, Mr Hatch said: "Young people are drifting away from farming and the countryside. Today around 72% of citizens in the EU live in urban areas, with this figure expected to rise to more than 90% in several countries by 2020. We all agree on the importance of rural communities but we are not doing enough to sustain them."

Commissioner Hogan, noting he would very much welcome idea from local and regional politicians on addressing this important issue said: "The farming population is getting older at a rapid rate. For each young farmer – aged 35 years or younger – there are approximately nine farmers older than 55 years. Generational renewal is an issue that goes far beyond a reduction in the average age of farmers in the EU. It is also about empowering a new generation of highly-qualified young farmers to bring the full benefits of technology to support sustainable farming practices in Europe."

With only 6% of all farms being managed by people under 35 years old, the aging farming workforce across the EU is a substantial problem that needs addressing. The opinion found that for many young people however, farming is an undesirable profession owing to low income, long working hours and lack of infrastructure and resources in rural communities.

“We need a healthy agricultural sector for a healthy rural economy but this means reforms of the financial support system for young farmers. The subsidy system should address both the needs of established and new farmers rather than being tied to land ownership. The current system favours existing farmers, making it more difficult for our youth to enter the sector. We need to invest more in skills, which is where local and regional authorities have a key role to play in offering advice to young farmers on technical, legal and financial matters," said rapporteur Arnold Hatch.

The opinion of the EUs local and regional politicians calls for more initiatives to support entrepreneurship in the sector and promote educational programmes such as Erasmus to young farmers. It also makes recommendations for the CAP subsidies to benefit smaller, family farms rather than favouring existing farmers, as well as investing more in skills and training programmes for which local and regional authorities have a key role in offering advice to young farmers on technical, legal and financial matters.

Following the adoption, CoR members welcomed Commissioner Hogan for a debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), where the Commissioner supported the conclusions drawn in Councillor Hatch's opinion.

The exchange of views were welcome by the Commissioner in light of the forthcoming consultation on the future of CAP post-2020 scheduled to take place later this year.