Executive Summary. Pilot project: Exchange programmes for young farmers. Final

Transcription

1 Executive Summary Pilot project: Exchange programmes for young farmers Final Marie-Jose Zondag (Ecorys Netherlands) Carolien de Lauwere (LEI-Wageningen UR) Peter Sloot (Aequator Groen & Ruimte) Andreas Pauer (Ecorys Brussels) November 2015

2 EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development European Commission B-1049 Brussels

3 EUROPEAN COMMISSION Executive Summary Pilot project: Exchange programmes for young farmers Final Ecorys Netherlands, Marie-Jose Zondag LEI-Wageningen UR, Carolien de Lauwere Aequator Groen & Ruimte, Peter Sloot Ecorys Brussels, Andreas Pauer November 2015 Directorate-General for [Name of the Directorate-General] [Name of the Programme/Activity] 2015 EUR [number] EN

4 Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): (*) The information given is free, as are most calls (though some operators, phone boxes or hotels may charge you). LEGAL NOTICE The information and views set out in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission. The Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study. Neither the Commission nor any person acting on the Commission s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet ( Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2015 Catalogue number KF EN-N ISBN Doi / European Union, 2015 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in the Netherlands

5 KNOWLEDGE FOR YOUNG FARMERS OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The Pilot Project: Exchange programmes for young farmers has been initiated by the European Parliament in 2011 and commissioned by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) in 2013 to: I. Identify the needs of young farmers; II. Get an overview of exchange schemes for young farmers III. Develop a guide for improving exchange schemes. The study (DG AGRI, Tender No AGRI-2012-Eval-03) has been implemented by Ecorys in cooperation with LEI Wageningen UR and Aequator Groen & Ruimte in APPROACH An EU-wide survey, based on a comprehensive questionnaire, was carried out in all Member States in summer of 2013 in order to identify and classify the specific needs of young farmers. Through interviews and extensive research 185 exchange schemes for young farmers have been identified throughout EU-28 and some selected OECD countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States of America). Based on the inventory, seven types of exchange schemes for young farmers were distinguished. More in-depth analysis of the 22 exchange schemes was carried out to analyse the implementation and outcomes of these schemes with particular regard to their effectiveness and efficiency. Based on this work, a guide for successful exchange scheme was developed to enable existing and new exchange schemes to learn from each other. A number of good practices tips and hints - were collected on the design, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of an exchange scheme. PART I - THE NEEDS OF YOUNG FARMERS To identify the needs of young farmers 2,205 farmers younger than 40 years have been interviewed in all 28 EU member states. In addition a focus group consisting of relevant stakeholders (policy makers, farmers, education institutes, etc.) was organized in each Member State to validate the survey. General needs of young farmers The analysis of survey responses shows that young farmers have different expectations and needs, depending on the region in which they live, the agricultural sector in which they work (intensive, extensive), their level of education, their relation to the farm (owner of the farm or not) etc. This study revealed that young farmers are not always aware that it would be beneficial to improve certain skills such as entrepreneurship knowledge, marketing, networking, communication and financial skills. Many farmers are used to managing their farm in a traditional way and see no needs to change this approach. % young farmers having difficulty to obtain land

6 Young farmers in new Member States have less specific needs than young farmers in EU-15. They are more likely to be interested in developing a range of skills and obtaining knowledge from different sources including the participation in the exchange scheme. Interestingly, young farmers managing a farm on their own are more confident of themselves. They perceive less general needs than young farmers sharing the management with other farmers; however they are less inclined to develop their skills. Access to land. The results of this study confirm that access to land is the most important barrier for young farmers to enter into the agricultural sector. The main factors hampering access to land stem from national legislative and regulatory frameworks (including taxation). However, young farmers in intensive, specialized sectors (like olive orchards) consider land less and knowledge more important than young farmers in extensive sectors such as dairy or arable farming. Access to capital and qualified labour. Whilst access to land is linked to high land prices, entry of young farmers into the agricultural sector is also hampered by the considerably high start-up costs (machinery, livestock etc.), which may be problematic for young farmers as they are often short of collaterals to guarantee the loans. The lack of qualified labour, seasonal workers, machinery, advice of private consultants and access to insurance are perceived as an important barrier, in particular in new MS. Knowledge needs of young farmers. Young farmers are open-minded, and interested in learning more about the farming and in developing their entrepreneurial and business competences like marketing, networking, management, market analysis, communication, ICT and financial skills. The results of the survey show that young farmers with a high level of education are more open to develop different kinds of skills; they perceive fewer hindrances to obtaining information or, for example, joining an exchange scheme. Surprisingly, this study also reveals that young farmers do not consider knowledge acquisition as a crucial element for successful farming. It is the young farmer's opinion that knowledge can be easily available and therefore the respective need is perceived in a less prominent way than other needs. Information sources for young farmers People. Other farmers represent the privileged source of information for young farmers, followed by farmers associations and agricultural consultants and advisors. Internet & exchange. Internet is a vital source of information for young farmers, but also field days or excursions, individual advice, fairs or exhibitions, (agricultural) trainings or courses, farmers journals and workshops, seminars or conferences. It is striking that online training, e- learning, e-discussions and social media are far less popular than internet. They are mostly used by the farm owners who have few possibilities to leave the farm for a long period. Recommendations concerning the knowledge needs of young farmers Land market: Although the land market legislation falls under national competence and there is a limited scope of actions for intervening at the EU level, the following ideas could be explored: Stimulate land mobility (land banks, farmland matching initiatives and other initiatives promoted at local level to encourage the access to land to the new entrants). Broaden the scope of the supported actions to new farm business models (in particular innovative types of partnerships among farmers). Capital: To consider explicitly the needs of new and young farmers in the design of new financial instruments. Knowledge: An increasing professionalization of the farming sector implies the need to strengthen the existing knowledge and skills basis (educational and training programmes). Knowledge offered should be tailor-made and adapted to the specific needs of young farmers in each country allowing them to develop the business in a coherent and efficient manner. 2

7 PART II - THE INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS OF EXCHANGE SCHEMES Type Exchange schemes play an important role in offering young farmers the possibility of acquiring practical knowledge of farming and widening their horizons. According to this research, alternatives to exchange schemes do not exist. For young people, the schemes fill a gap between theoretical learning (of mainly technological agricultural matters) and the reality of farming in another country. Scheme managers, participants and hosts are convinced that they have learned things they could never have learned elsewhere. Exchange schemes have existed for more than a century (Travel 2 Farm exists since 1912). Through interviews and extensive research some 185 exchange schemes for young farmers have been identified throughout EU-28 and some selected OECD countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States of America). Based on the inventory, seven types of exchange schemes for young farmers have been distinguished: Explanation 1. Classic Participants travel to another 1000s (part of the) country for several weeks up to 12 months 2. Classic organic 1000s Same as type 1 but focused on organic or ecological farming 3. Leadership Small numbers of (young) farmers (mentees) receiving 10s training from mentors, being experienced business people from industry 4. Business Large retailer enabling exchange on a supply chain to 10s improve entrepreneurial experience of a young farmer. 5. Web-based exchange 10s 6. Group exchange 10s 7. EU exchange 100s Exchange on demand, strongly based on the internet and open access of data, e.g. library services, video farming. Physical travel is virtually absent. Exchange through group activities, e.g. travel and meetings of up to 15 young farmers, for periods of up to 2 weeks EU and national exchange schemes, run by governmental organisations and EU / national funded Number of schemes & some Focus & schemes Finance ( ) >55, Travel to Farm (DK), Conventional Odyssée Agri (FR), R-ETA production (HU), SUSP (NL), AgriVenture, Mixed CAEP, Experience International, IFYE (USA) ± 30, WWOOF, the largest of Organic all schemes and MESA in the production USA. Mixed ± 30, Nuffield Farming Scholarship, Get Mentoring to Farming (UK), Jovems de Lideranca (Brazil), several in Canada and the USA ± 10, Tesco s Future Farmer Foundation and similar organisations run by Woolworths and Sainsbury s. ± 10, Public Library Innovation Programme of EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries) and ATTRA in the USA. ± 5, NAJK-Wereldboeren in the Netherlands, Solis in Latvia and BRYE in Brazil. ± 30, Erasmus for young entrepreneurs, Erasmus+ Management Private Management Private Knowledge Mixed Variable Mixed Variable EU Number of annual participants in an exchange scheme = source of finance * Mixed implies mixed contributions from participants, NGOs and governments. The wide array of existing schemes is meeting the different needs for exchange: from the focus on another culture, on agriculture or the supply chain, from single to group travel, from 1 day to 1 year, from Europe to worldwide, etc. There is however no such thing as a transparent, open market where young farmers can go shopping to find the exchange scheme that suits them best. Also the awareness of exchange schemes is low. 3

8 Young farmers feel an increasing need to arrange their exchanges themselves. This requires the schemes to offer flexibility in terms of specific knowledge needs, length of stays abroad and combinations of theory and practice. Educational institutes and young farmer associations play an important role in the start-up of an exchange scheme and the definition of the objectives. The schemes are often embedded in the agricultural (knowledge) infrastructure and network of a country. PART III - GUIDE FOR SUCCESSFUL EXCHANGE SCHEMES FOR YOUNG FARMERS To enable existing and new exchange schemes to learn from each other a guide for successful exchange schemes has been developed. for current and future scheme managers. It could also serve to make sponsors and funding agencies aware of the vast benefits of exchange programmes for young farmers. The guide contains lessons learnt, options, good practices and tips and tricks on the design of an exchange scheme, the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of an exchange scheme for young farmers. How to design your exchange scheme? 4

9 Objectives and effective exchange schemes for young farmers Managing exchange schemes for young farmers efficiently 5

10 Ensuring a sustainable long-lasting exchange scheme for young farmers The degree of success of the schemes and the level of satisfaction of its participants and hosts vary enormously. On the whole, exchange schemes appear to be hugely successful, both for participants and hosts. The costs of participation, including the replacement costs back home, are a serious hindrance to taking part in an exchange scheme in some countries. Exchange schemes compete amongst each other. In relatively smaller countries, a gentlemen s agreement is not to accept outbound participants from foreign countries. In larger countries with more active schemes, such as the USA, inbound travelling is a market of competition. Regulation does not exist; therefore anyone interested can start an exchange scheme. 6

11 Recommendations concerning exchange schemes in general Improve communication and publicity: many young farmers are not aware of exchange schemes and what they have to offer. This is a challenge for the exchange schemes and public authorities; A transparent and complete overview, open to all and available on the internet (e.g. ENRD) could serve as market-place where supply and demand for exchanges meet; Further research is needed to study the effects and impact of exchange schemes and compare with other relevant measures, such as farm advisory systems and farm relief services or training strategies. The results could strengthen support, sponsoring and recognition of exchange schemes. for governments Explore possibilities to connect the allocation of funds from rural development programmes with the (EU) exchange schemes such as Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs to support exchange schemes, especially in countries with a low representation of (partner) organisations. Facilitate initiatives to start up schemes for exchanges among (young) farmers, for example through start-up accelerators, taking into account national and possibly regional specific circumstances. Strive to remove legal barriers, such as visa requirements and work permits, that inhibit the travel and permanence (for up to a year) of (graduated) agricultural students, trainees and young farmers. Offer a reliable farm relieve or replacement service to overcome the main hindrance that young farmers feel regarding joining an exchange scheme: the lack of time and replacement at their parental farm. for exchange schemes Before starting up an exchange mechanism yourself, get to know and make use of the existing knowledge infrastructure and study the user needs well. Administrative burden can be reduced through online options. Exchange schemes can make much more use of internet for e.g. communication, selection of candidates, matching with host farmers. Only few exchange schemes use these opportunities. Improve health and liability insurance standards to prevent uncovered costs of participants (and hosts). Offer language courses prior to departure to increase the satisfaction of the exchange participants. Offer more flexibility to participants in terms of specific technical and entrepreneurial knowledge needs, varying combinations of theory and practice and differing lengths of stay. In case of mismatch between host and participant, enable changes from one host to another. Expectation management is important to make sure that the chosen exchange scheme fits the knowledge needs of the young farmer and hosts. Organise your alumni and use their positive energy for recruiting new participants, bringing in additional sponsors and possibly taking up managerial tasks. All results can be found at: For more information: DG AGRI: agri-evaluation@ec.europa.eu or Ecorys: Marie-Jose.Zondag@ecorys.com 7

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