The workshop, entitled “EU perspectives for the young Ukrainian farmers”, consisted of several panel debates on a number of related agricultural issues. As well as delivering a keynote speech in the opening session, the CEJA President also chaired one of the workshop’s panel debates, on the subject of “cooperation as a driving force for profitable agricultural production”, a topic which was at the heart of Mr Baecke’s message.
Outlining the importance of young farmer representation across the EU, further afield, and all over the world, Mr Baecke highlighted the need for increased exchange in terms of knowledge, ideas and cooperation among young farmers. Young farmers are more productive, efficient, environmentally-friendly and educated than other farmers, leading to more innovative and ambitious ideas for the future. Organisations like CEJA can bring these farmers and ideas together in order to innovate and improve the agricultural sector. This is also why CEJA is an affiliate member of the World Farming Organisation (WFO), in order to learn from farmers further afield than the EU too.
Speaking to the audience of Ukrainian young farmers, the CEJA President clearly presented the needs of young farmers within the EU and beyond, stating that: “We are seeing a decrease in the number of young people entering agriculture across the globe at a time where the sector needs innovation, increased productivity and increased sustainability more than ever before. This demands an appropriate reaction in agricultural policy reform: incentives and support must be provided for ambitious and well-educated young people to enter the sector before it is too late, and the EU should be taking the lead on this and setting the example.”
