MSc student meets European Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development Phil Hogan

On Monday the 29th of April, European Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development Mr Phil Hogan launched the new European fund especially for young farmers. He introduced this new financial instrument in Nieuw-Namen, the Netherlands where young farmers and stakeholders of the Dutch agribusiness were gathered.

It’s hoped two billion euros will be available from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a collaboration of national banks to European agriculture, in particular young farmers. This fund is important to encourage and stimulate the new generation in farming.

I attended the meeting as I am trying to understand the challenges facing young farmers for this group as part of my MRP research, which focuses on the effectiveness of financing options for young and beginning farmers in the Netherlands. The timing of this fund is extremely good. However, the lack of access to resources will not solved by this particular money injection alone. Individual Member States need to contribute more to encouraging young people to enter farming and making it more attractive the youth. I hope my research will provide some new insights.

Read more: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-19-2294_en.htm

By: Annemarie de Ceuster, MSc International Agri-business and Food Chain Management student at Harper Adams University