Farmland is a growing issue in many parts of Europe. While there are significant national differences, some trends are prevalent throughout Europe: diminution of agricultural land and land concentration, sale and rent price increase, disconnection between agricultural land use value and its price, insufficient renewal of farmers’ generations, etc. Besides these trends, recent evolutions – such as competition between food, fibre and agrofuels for agricultural land use or massive financial investments in European agricultural land - are a source for concern. In this respect, Europe is no exception to the global context of increasing pressure on agricultural land and food production. Yet, the land question remains largely ignored, or taboo.
In this context, our organisations propose to come back to basics: agricultural land is, before anything else, the basis for food production and the reproduction of lasting ecosystems, hence human life, in the long run. Through our practices and policy proposals, we call for a new approach to farmland, focused on the four following dimensions:
Land is an essential, finite resource. Let’s preserve it from urban development and ensure that farming practices contribute to protect the quality of the soil, water and ecosystems.
Current land markets and policies come together to favour agro-industrial forms of farming and fuel land concentration. How can we secure land to ensure the development of agroecology in Europe?
Within 10 years, half European farmers will retire. Currently, many retirements lead to farm closure and land concentration. How to facilitate farm succession and the entry of newcomers into farming?
Mobilising communities to ensure that farmland is used and managed in a way that fulfils its essential contribution to food production, ecosystems and human life.