What's in a Name? Defining New Entrants to Farming

New entrants to farming are eligible for CAP targeted supports. The intention of these supports is promote innovativeness and sustainability in the agricultural sector through generational renewal. However, new (successors or those completely into industry), still face multiple barriers above other longstanding farmers, including lack access necessary capital, land housing. There also ambiguity about success entrant achieving their stated objectives. We draw on results from an online survey distributed anyone involved Europe, European working support services. Survey respondents were asked how they would define a ‘new farmer’. A clear majority indicated that should be industry; is, not successors existing farm businesses. substantial minority establishing innovative businesses, with overlapping cohort emphasising sustainability. Very few identified age as important criterion. argue definition utilised policy could more towards objectives, distinguishing social justice (enabling newcomers enter sector), innovation (e.g. venture capital funds) (greening CAP). Les nouveaux arrivants dans l'agriculture ont droit aux aides ciblées de la PAC. Ces visent à promouvoir l'innovation et durabilité le secteur agricole par renouvellement des générations. Cependant, les (successeurs ou complètement venus l'industrie) sont toujours confrontés multiples obstacles rapport agriculteurs établis longue date, notamment manque d'accès au terre logement dont ils besoin. La capacité réaliser leurs objectifs déclarés est également ambigüe. Nous nous appuyons sur résultats d'une enquête en ligne distribuée européens employés services qui accompagnent. On demandé participants cette comment définiraient un ‘nouvel agriculteur arrivant’. Une nette majorité répondants indiqué que devraient être l'industrie; c'est-à-dire qu'il ne s'agit pas successeurs d'entreprises agricoles existantes. minorité substantielle créer nouvelles entreprises innovantes, avec une cohorte se chevauche mettant l'accent durabilité. Très peu identifié l'âge comme critère important. soutenons définition utilisée soutiens publics pourrait davantage ciblée politique, distinguant sociale (permettant d'entrer secteur) (par exemple, fonds capital-risque) (verdissement PAC). Für den Neueinstieg die Landwirtschaft sind bestimmte GAP-Förderprogramme vorgesehen. Ziel dieser Programme ist es, Innovationsfähigkeit und Nachhaltigkeit Agrarsektors durch einen Generationswechsel zu fördern. Neueinsteigende (durch Hofnachfolge oder ganz neu Wirtschaftszweig Strebende) sehen sich jedoch zahlreichen Hindernissen ausgesetzt – im Gegensatz jenen schon lange Jahre betreiben. Hierzu zählen der fehlende Zugang Kapital, Land Wohnraum. Zudem unklar wie erfolgreich Förderung von Neueinsteigenden bei Erreichung ihrer erklärten Ziele ist. Wir stützen uns auf Ergebnisse einer Online-Befragung, Europa durchgeführt wurde. Sie richtete Personen, entsprechenden Fördereinrichtungen arbeiten. Unter anderem wurde Frage gestellt, „Neueinsteigende “definiert werden können. Eine deutliche Mehrheit Befragten gab an, dass es um Personen handeln sollte, streben nicht Nachfolger Nachfolgerinnen bestehenden landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben. Ein kleiner Teil neue Unternehmen gründen dabei Schwerpunkt legen sollten. Nur sehr wenige Befragte nannten das Alter als wichtiges Kriterium. schlagen vor, Definition Neueinsteigenden, Förderprogrammen verwendet wird, gezielter politischen ausgerichtet könnte. Dabei sollte zwischen sozialer Gerechtigkeit (die zum Sektor ermöglicht) Innovation (z. B. Risikokapitalfonds) (Ökologisierung GAP) unterschieden wird. acknowledged increasing levels innovation, business environmental protection EU farms (Regidor, 2012). perceived shortage recognised problem’: Europe's farmers ageing, but there considerable variation between Member States (see Coopmans al., 2021; Zagata al. 2017). Although traditionally, succession family ties has been most common means which start across Europe (Jack 2019), growing trend who do have farming, even background sector. These instead bring skills experience diverse range previous careers (Pindado 2018). In recognition importance facilitating succession, Commission established several include Young Farmer Payment, compulsory scheme introduced under regulation (EU) No. 1307/2013 Pillar One allowed allocate up 2 per cent direct payments envelope Payment. 2023–2027 CAP, this measure 3 minimum. Under Two, young comprised Business Start-up aid opportunity introduce favourable loans bank guarantees. proposals removal limits (previously capped at 40 years), reallocation small-scale will disproportionately benefit newcomers, owing typically smaller size farms. paper we consider prospective further suitably order achieve associated first definitions followed by Europe. Newcomers variety routes. Horizon 2020 Newbie project based EIP Agri Focus group Entrants Farming's work defining developed typology Figure 1. figure demonstrates people entering may make major changes operations full part-time entrants, varying degrees off-farm experience. resources needed accessed spouses members; although individual case spouse partner. thus very difficult distinguish practice. Source: Authors’ reworking (2017), adapted EIP-AGRI Report, 2016. ‘Young farmer person no than years moment submitting application, possesses adequate occupational competence setting time holding head holding’ (Article 2, paragraph n). ‘A natural person, legal entity within past five own name(s). actively (i.e. producing products sale) either returning family-held after minimum 10 employment’ (USDA Sutherland 2016). his organic beef herd, Scotland, UK © Rachel Creaney As suggested Entrant focus report (2016), can gained outside skills, networks financial leading production, marketing management practices spread throughout systems. Such currently often absent entrants. such considered strongly when given potential enhance future (CEJA, 2019). An updated encompasses only characteristics, indicates type i.e. focusing ideas, help sustainable future-oriented footing. This especially key need simultaneously offer good quality food, public goods livelihood production. Box 1 part record overall aim was gather information specific issues face, well mechanisms reduce some barriers. questions devised researchers H2020 project. Ethical approval obtained James Hutton Institute, Ethics Board, additional all ten partners. open advisors academics. conducted during August–September 2021, using Qualtrics (online software) national language member countries. both closed response open-ended questions. total, 352 completed questionnaires collected survey, 192 usable responses question, ‘in two sentences less please what you’. represented opinions (with experience) professionals advisors, media, researchers). Responses qualitative question nine partner countries: Belgium (6), Bulgaria (10), France (31), Germany (80), Ireland (5), Netherlands Portugal (13), Slovenia (20) (17). translated English partners before being analysed thematically NVivo software. Overall, proposed definitions, demonstrating agreement constitutes heterogeneity, patterns emphasis emerged, relating newness sector, relationship longer term age, sustainability, duration tenure. First explore secondly finally limitations. ‘Someone enters agriculture without inheriting farm’ (Belgium #3) just work’ (Bulgaria #8) takes over starts takeover family’ (Netherlands #2) didn’t grow ‘born to’ become according traditional demographical dynamics, who, one point his/her professionnal life, decides farming’ (France #1) ‘Beginners agriculture’ (Germany farmed before. Often careers’ (Ireland sector’ (Portugal #16) newly engaged agriculture, primary job responsibility’ (Slovenia #9) ‘The generation (UK characteristic expressed study countries, necessarily view it particularly France, United Kingdom. For 39 participants, sole criterion identified. ‘No link breaking away enterprise #10) ‘New … ‘Are converting ideas’ #45) business’ ‘One anew model path’ #12) Key conception doing something new, making change clearly distinct business. ‘People branches taking #14) successor right before’ ‘Takeover parental planned’ #28) cases highlight control farm, implicit specifically suggestion employees entrants). (as American entrants), rather individual. ‘Entrant vision development, looking applying cooperation /collaboration’ #6) ‘Become entrepreneur agribusiness background’ #50) ‘As renews sustains whole’ #4) dedicated managing activity business, technologies, communication. More aware market its challenges’ ‘sustainable’ appeared 11 times (6 cent), unclear whether referred economic enterprise, environment. Some did emphasise ‘environmentally friendly’ unusual definitions. suggests approaches included rhetoric borne out perspectives themselves. Interestingly, ‘brave’ ‘motivated’ times. Terms like ‘ambitious’ ‘dedicated’ used. subset emphasised increasingly context challenges innovative, provide wider competitive markets). difficulties present, generations faced. Age limitation entrants’ since instituted. evident produced respondents. Only 7 characteristic. Within these, specified limit (less 30 #5); ‘young’. Two made ‘any age’ #3). ‘Founders, max. start-up’ #21) (anew long period non-participation agriculture). status tied number completed. ‘new’ if he runs fewer years’. business-critical decisions so, gradually parent’ horticultural Lee-Ann supporters research heterogeneous, single practical operation analysing set, differ substantively underpinning light analysis, set needed, align aims. First, concurred overcome Ex novo inherit (land, machinery, infrastructure) cultural (Sutherland 2023), putting them disadvantage. value policy, review (2017) demonstrated six seven countries assessed, primarily benefited successors. expected, current any reference background. authors, issue enabling establish viable sector: Common Agricultural Policy substantially declined proportion budget recent decades, projections 2021–2027 place 30.9 cent.1 such, critical subsidies largely restricted landowners heirs. therefore enable Second, entrepreneurial. suggest second transformational development. emphasises transitions (eco-schemes, rural development schemes climate biodiversity etc) little mention commercial entrepreneurship technological development.2 It category supported. ample evidence invest decade prior formal occurring. Farmers stop investing retreat semi-retirement farming. Successors put stamp business; turning trajectory purpose supporting then funds oriented innovations se. Furthermore, understand best way ‘innovation’ measured terms subsequently providing support. Nevertheless, requiring long-term planning), creation adopted instead. Third, brought individuals come ‘career changers’ (Žabko Tisenkopfs, 2022) useful flexibility entrant’ option consideration measures located ‘supporting farmers’. likely continue succession. While negative outcome argued, youth risks missing later life; reconfigure subsidy, offering true independence person. rarely secondary unmentioned automatic minds themselves supporters. To transitions, ‘greening’ appropriate aim. article assessed posed heterogeneity farmer’ offered consistent novelty Amongst descriptions bravery enthusiasm recognising face. create “An emergent theme bringing ideas farming.” “Un thème émergent définitions du arrivant’ était l'importance d'être innovant d'apporter idées secteur.” “In Definitionen Begriffs ‘Neueinstieg’ deutlich, wichtig ist, innovativ sein Ideen einzubringen.” strawberry farmer, Canada