It’s well known by now that most of Europe’s agricultural land is in the hands of greying farmers: More than half of farmland is managed by farmers over 55, while only 6% of the total land area is managed by farmers under 35.
But while the looming threat of generational renewal has taken centre stage in policy discussions, another kind of generational renewal has gone quietly under the radar – one that the farming sector should be just as worried about.
The European Commission’s agricultural service, best known as DG AGRI, is also haemorrhaging its grey-ts, with many of their top dogs retiring over the past few months.
Public EU servants such as food chain authority Michael Scannell, agricultural economist Tassos Haniotis, or the top trade expert John Clarke will all be familiar to those of us working in Europe’s agricultural policy, given that they fronted many of the Commission’s public appearances.
And with, cumulatively, several lifetimes of experience under their belts, there is no doubt that their departures have left a big hole – one that now has to be filled by a new wave of intakes.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/agrifood-brief-agris-got-a-blank-space-baby/https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/agrifood-brief-agris-got-a-blank-space-baby/