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Remarks at Macra na Feirme’s, “Delivering for Young Agri Entrepreneurs 2014 – 2020”

11th March 2013

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am delighted to welcome you all to Aras an Uachtaráin this evening. I would like to extend a particular welcome to those of you who have travelled from abroad to attend the “Delivering for Young Agri Entrepreneurs 2014 – 2020” event. I hope you are enjoying your visit to Dublin and that you will be able to find some time to explore our capital city.

It is essential that European citizens, of all ages, make their own imaginative and practical contribution to the shaping of our shared future. At a time of great challenge for the European Union, it is critically important that the voice of its citizens are heard and respected.
Tá dearcadh na ndaoine sin, ar luachmhar leo an ceangal atá acu leis an talamh agus leis an bhfeirmeoireacht, ach nach mór dóibh ag an am céanna a bheith ábalta slí bheatha inbhuanaithe a bhaint as, fíorthábhachtach ar fad.
[The views of those who value their relationship with the land and farming but who also have to make a sustainable livelihood from it is particularly important.]

Your contribution to the debate on rural development in Europe is an extremely important and welcome one as it will contribute to the delivery of a cohesive and united message from young European farmers regarding the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in the period 2014 – 2020.

There is increasing concern that young people now comprise such a very small percentage of farmers in Europe. Indeed only six per cent of European farmers are under thirty five years of age, and in some Member States that figure is as low as 3%. Here in Ireland, the average age of farmers has risen to fifty four in recent years, presenting us with a challenge as the number of farmers retiring greatly exceeds the number of young people who may wish to take over the family farm. Yet the number of our young people seeking places in agricultural colleges is vastly greater than the number of places available and the number of applicants is constantly increasing.

Leaving the land is, sadly, not a new phenomenon and has been happening over many centuries. Worryingly, based on current models and trends, population pressure will be increasingly focussed on cities. Unless these trends change, our cities will become denser, more populated and more externally dependent on resources and energy. In fact, just over a year ago we reached a significant milestone in the history of human settlement when it was estimated that more than half of the global population now lives in cities. In Europe, that figure increases to 71% and is expected to increase further to 80% by 2020.

This is, of course, a worldwide trend common to both industrialised and less developed countries. The socio – economic effects of increased urbanisation have been well documented – increased energy, land and soil consumption; more overcrowding and congestion; and increased greenhouse emissions. In addition, the critical issue of food security is also affected by growing urbanisation and is now firmly back on the global agenda.
The challenge is to make both our rural and urban species adopt to each other. An old fallacy of the rural being the garden of eden and the city the result of the fall will not serve us well.

There can therefore be no doubt that a discussion on how to effect some restructuring of the current urban-rural migration trends across Europe is both timely and necessary. There can also be no doubt that an important element of this reversal will be attracting more young people into entering, remaining, and feeling secure and satisfied in the farming sector and related areas, and ensuring that agriculture represents a viable career option in a modern age.

It is encouraging, therefore, to meet the young people concerned; dynamic and innovative young people who are committed to working in the agricultural sector and who are prepared to share your views and experiences as you debate the policies and structures required to advance the issue of rural development in a modern Europe.

There are many issues to be discussed in this regard, many questions to be asked and many concerns to be aired: how to promote the increasingly technical, complex and challenging nature of working in the agricultural sector; such issues as to how young agri-entrepreneurs can raise finance and cope with the low return on investment during their first years in operation; how to ensure the industry is competitive, market orientated and remains responsive to the retail sector that must be responsible and fair; how to manage the interdependent relationships between farming communities, rural towns and regional centres so they can have a sustainable life together. These and many other concerns, some of which will be common to all entrepreneurs and some of which will be specific to your own sector, need your input and fresh thinking if we are to find creative and effective solutions.

I am sure you have been addressing some of these issues today as part of your aim to bring about positive change in the farming sector and to explore the expectations of Europe’s new generation of farmers. While there is clearly much work to be done, I also firmly believe that the outlook for the future of agri-entrepreneurship in Europe is very positive and encouraging.
In Ireland, the Agri-Food sector is our most important indigenous industry and has been widely recognised as having a key role to play in Ireland’s export-led economic recovery. The sector has worked hard to focus resources on what consumers demand – the highest quality in food production and environmental standards, as well as clear visibility on sustainability issues. Our products have acquired the premium status they enjoy throughout the world as a result of sustained hard work and general support for standards.

The evident failure in recent years of a model of economy driven by speculation on property and money products that often had little intrinsic value has caused people to rethink their fundamental assumptions as to what is real in economic terms. There is a welcome return to focusing on the real economy that delivers genuine value to citizens. The renewed interest in agriculture and rural development is motivated by the vocational desire for something that is truly authentic and sustainable.

That is the reason that, as I have already mentioned, demand for third level courses in agriculture, horticulture and forestry in Ireland have steadily increased in the last few years. The Irish Agri-food sector will certainly be enriched and revitalised by this injection of youth back into our countryside. With hard work, innovation and active participation from our younger generation the future for Agri-entrepreneurship in Europe can indeed be a bright one.

Ba mhaith liom críochnú agus buíochas a ghlacadh libh go léir as na hiarrachtaí atá déanta agaibh chun earnáil talmhaíochta níos óige agus níos nuálaí a chur chun cinn ar feadh na seacht stát is fiche san Aontas Eorpach agus chun dálaí maithe oibre agus maireachtála a chruthú do dhaoine óga atá ag tabhairt faoin bhfeirmeoireacht
[I would like to conclude by thanking you for all your efforts in promoting a younger and innovative agricultural sector across the EU 27 and to create good working and living conditions for young people setting up in farming.]

I wish you well over the coming days as you continue your valuable debate and I hope you enjoy the remainder of your time in Ireland.

Go raibh mile maith agaibh go leir.