{"id":4333,"date":"2025-04-10T10:23:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T08:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/generational-renewal-in-french-agriculture-a-crucial-challenge-for-the-future-of-the-sector\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T10:23:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T09:23:17","slug":"generational-renewal-in-french-agriculture-a-crucial-challenge-for-the-future-of-the-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/generational-renewal-in-french-agriculture-a-crucial-challenge-for-the-future-of-the-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"Generational Renewal in French Agriculture: A Crucial Challenge for the Future of the Sector"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4333\" class=\"elementor elementor-4333 elementor-3205\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1816869 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1816869\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-94a976e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"94a976e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Generational renewal in agriculture is one of the major challenges facing French \u2014 and, more broadly, European \u2014 agriculture.<br>The aging of farmers and the difficulty in finding successors for farms go beyond the simple issue of replacement: it is <strong>the entire balance of our agricultural model<\/strong> that is at stake.<br>This phenomenon has profound repercussions on the sector&#8217;s organization, on the vitality of rural areas, and on the sustainability of <strong>agricultural cooperatives<\/strong>, an essential link in the French agricultural economy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-379c050 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"379c050\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"241\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Image-articles-11-1024x308.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4338\" alt=\"farm renewal\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Image-articles-11-1024x308.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Image-articles-11-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Image-articles-11-768x231.png 768w, https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Image-articles-11.png 1063w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aada6fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"aada6fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Challenge of Generational Renewal in Agriculture in France and Europe<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eebbeb6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eebbeb6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The situation is alarming: <strong>by 2030, one in two French farmers will be retired<\/strong>.<br>And France is no exception. At the European level, <strong>the average age of farmers is 57<\/strong> and only <strong>12% are under 40<\/strong> (compared to 18.2% in France).<br>For Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture, \u201c<em>this puts our food security and the future of our rural areas at risk<\/em>.\u201d <\/p><p>Faced with this generational drain, <strong>Brussels has presented an ambitious battle plan<\/strong>: to increase the share of young farmers from 12% to <strong>24% by 2040<\/strong>.<br>The objective? To double the number of new young farmers in sixteen years, thanks to a series of unprecedented levers: <\/p><ul><li>start-up <strong>aid of up to \u20ac300,000<\/strong>,<\/li><li>85% <strong>European co-financing<\/strong> for young farmers&#8217; investments,<\/li><li>the possibility of using <strong>CAP funds for land purchase<\/strong>,<\/li><li>the creation of a <strong>European agricultural land observatory<\/strong> from 2026 to combat land speculation,<\/li><li>and even an <strong>Erasmus for young farmers<\/strong>, to promote mobility, training, and innovation in practices.<\/li><\/ul><p>Another strong measure: from 2032, the Commission plans the <strong>gradual phasing out of CAP aid for retired farmers<\/strong> to encourage the transfer of farms.<br>These guidelines mark a genuine political will to place young farmers at the heart of European food sovereignty.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60bbb04 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"60bbb04\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">In France, Still Insufficient Renewal<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0ee3ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e0ee3ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In France, however, renewal struggles to keep pace with departures.<br>According to the <strong>General Council for Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas (CGAAER)<\/strong>, the <strong>number of farms could decrease by 30% within ten years<\/strong>.<br>In 2022, there were <strong>21,000 business cessations for only 14,000 new establishments<\/strong>.<\/p><p>Some regions are particularly affected:<br>in <strong>Brittany<\/strong>, nearly half of the farms are managed by farmers over 55 years old; in <strong>Aquitaine, Normandy<\/strong> or <strong>Occitanie<\/strong>, the agricultural population is even older.<\/p><p>The obstacles to setting up remain numerous:<\/p><ul><li>average <strong>cost of \u20ac200,000 for 35 hectares<\/strong>,<\/li><li>limited <strong>access to land<\/strong>, often monopolized by expansions of neighboring farms,<\/li><li>low <strong>incomes<\/strong> and demanding working conditions.<\/li><\/ul><p>Direct consequence: <strong>40% of new farmers leave agriculture within two years<\/strong>.<br>However, succession remains possible: according to the <strong>Jeunes Agriculteurs (Young Farmers)<\/strong> union, <strong>99% of those who follow a personalized professionalization plan are still active five years later<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ef8d96 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7ef8d96\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Challenges for Agricultural Cooperatives<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8cd8402 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8cd8402\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/eloi.eu\/transmettre-sa-ferme-avec-eloi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-Ernee-groupe-et-vache-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gform-image-choice-lg size-gform-image-choice-lg wp-image-4337\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d8b338 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8d8b338\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cooperatives, pillars of the rural fabric, are on the front line facing this generational transition.<br>They risk seeing their number of members decrease, leading to a <strong>decrease in collected volumes<\/strong> and <strong>higher operational costs<\/strong>.<br>Fewer farmers also means <strong>less investment pooling<\/strong>, less capacity for innovation, and more fragility in the value chain.<\/p><p>The <strong>sustainability of many cooperatives<\/strong> therefore depends on their ability to <strong>attract and support new farmers<\/strong>, to support the transfer of farms, and to rethink their membership models.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd51045 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bd51045\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Eloi: An Innovative Solution for Generational Renewal in Agriculture <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0bd117 e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b0bd117\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4535d5e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4535d5e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/eloi.eu\/a-propos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-Remi-et-michel-3.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4334\" alt=\"generational renewal in agriculture\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3652cef elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3652cef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-Capestang-3.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4335\" alt=\"Eloi - Capestang\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8beee9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8beee9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-Chanac-enclos-11.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4336\" alt=\"Eloi Chanac\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e6e2ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e6e2ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" xml:lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\">Faced with the urgency of generational renewal in agriculture, certain initiatives <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\">are emerging<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\">. This is the case for<\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/eloi.eu\/a-propos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\">Eloi<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\">, an innovative company that <a href=\"https:\/\/eloi.eu\/exploitations-agricoles-a-vendre\/#\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><strong>facilitates the transfer<\/strong> <\/a><\/span><a href=\"_wp_link_placeholder\"><strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentStart SCXW150048211 BCX0\">of<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\"> farms<\/span><\/strong><\/a><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\"> by connecting sellers and project holders. Thanks to a <\/span><\/span> <strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\">database of over 6,000 qualified candidates<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\">, Eloi manages to find a successor within <\/span><\/span><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\">three months of an announcement&#8217;s publication<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\" lang=\"FR-FR\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW150048211 BCX0\"><strong>.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW150048211 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{\"335551550\":6,\"335551620\":6}\"> <\/span><\/p><p>Each project benefits from a <strong>personalized transfer diagnosis<\/strong>, allowing for a fair price to be set, to highlight the farm&#8217;s assets, and to prepare the seller for the takeover.<\/p><p>This preliminary work secures the takeover and allows project holders to <strong>set up under better economic conditions<\/strong>, with a viable income from the first year.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cebd3a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cebd3a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reaching the Right Profiles, Nationwide<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c6eae7e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c6eae7e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One of Eloi&#8217;s major assets is its <strong>national reach<\/strong> and its ability to connect candidates from diverse backgrounds.<br>While some rural areas struggle to attract new farmers, the platform allows for <strong>connecting complementary profiles<\/strong>, including internationally.<\/p><p>This is how <strong>Joris<\/strong>, a young Belgian project holder, was able to join the <strong>GAEC d&#8217;Ern\u00e9e<\/strong> last year thanks to Eloi&#8217;s multichannel approach.<br>The company also offers <strong>specific support for cooperatives<\/strong>, to maximize the takeover of farms by future members.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1967cae e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1967cae\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec617b0 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ec617b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To learn more, contact Juliette Colin, project manager at Eloi by email: <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-829a70c elementor-align-center elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"829a70c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"http:\/\/juliette.colin@eloi.eu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" mail=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Send an email<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c704cd7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c704cd7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Collective and Strategic Challenge<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-acbe4dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"acbe4dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Between the <strong>massive aging of farmers<\/strong>, <strong>complex access to land<\/strong>, and the <strong>need to renew agricultural models<\/strong>, the challenge is immense.<br>But the signs are encouraging: European mobilization, the new measures of the <strong>Agricultural Orientation Law<\/strong>, and local initiatives like Eloi show that <strong>agricultural renewal is possible<\/strong>, provided that we focus on training, support, and intergenerational solidarity.<\/p><p>Generational renewal in agriculture is no longer just a necessity:<br>it is <strong>the key to food sovereignty and the vitality of tomorrow&#8217;s rural world<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e59f0c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e59f0c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Sources: Les Echos, Eloi, Fermes Leader<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Generational renewal in agriculture is one of the major challenges facing French \u2014 and, more broadly, European \u2014 agriculture.The aging of farmers and the difficulty in finding successors for farms go beyond the simple issue of replacement: it is the entire balance of our agricultural model that is at stake.This phenomenon has profound repercussions on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4336,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"partenaire":[],"categorie-de-projet":[],"class_list":["post-4333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-non-categorise"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4333"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4333\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4333"},{"taxonomy":"partenaire","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/partenaire?post=4333"},{"taxonomy":"categorie-de-projet","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fermesleader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categorie-de-projet?post=4333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}