The agricultural sector went in the last decades through an enormous structural transformation. Away from the small scale family farms towards large, capital intensive, fully mechanised and specialised industrialised farms. Cooperate agricultural business thrive while small and middle sized agricultural companies vanish. This is a picture we have seen in the last decennia and we see it still. Since 1990 the number of farms in the EU-12 member states decreased by 40% (EUROSTAT, 2007). In the EU-27 member states the number of farms decreased by 9% since 2003 (EUROSTAT, 2007). Fewer farmers manage more agricultural land. Family farmers disappear and with them life in rural areas.
These are alarming numbers for young farmers who want to start up a sustainable farming business! More info!
future-farmers.net 