The future of farming has a young face — though still a rare one.
In Italy, only 9% of farmers are under 40 (ISTAT, 2024).
Yet, this minority holds the key to a sustainable, tech-driven and resilient agriculture.
A Needed Generational Shift
Most farms are still managed by older farmers, threatening innovation and continuity.
The 2023–2027 CAP addresses this through grants, training, and easier access to credit.
Italy’s Strategic Plan (PSN) allocates up to €70,000 for young start-ups, alongside mentoring and eco-scheme priorities.
New Skills for a New Agriculture
The modern farmer works with both soil and data.
Enter the digital agronomist — skilled in drones, sensors, and satellite data.
Across Italy, young agri-tech start-ups are reshaping cereal farming:
- GreenField Analytics uses AI to forecast wheat yields;
- AgroHydra builds solar-powered smart irrigation systems;
- SoilLab creates low-cost soil sensors for precision farming.
ENEA (2025) reports +15% productivity and –20% chemical inputs in farms adopting digital tools.
Cooperation and Social Innovation
New-generation cooperatives merge technology and ecology.
They restore abandoned lands and create rural jobs — examples of social innovation in action.
In Tuscany, Terra Rinasce reclaimed 600 hectares for organic cereal farming, powered by open satellite data.
Agriculture as a Calling
For many young people, farming is not a fallback career — it’s a moral choice.
They see soil as a living system, not a resource to exploit.
As the FAO (2024) notes, “youth are redefining agriculture as a force for climate-positive change.”
Still an Uphill Battle
Barriers persist: land access, funding, and rural connectivity.
The EU’s Young Farmers Pact (2024) seeks to expand youth involvement in green and research programs.
Supporting youth means securing the future of food and sustainability.
Scientific and Institutional References
- FAO (2024). Youth in Agrifood Systems: Drivers of the Green Transition.
- ISTAT (2024). Italian Agricultural Census.
- ENEA (2025). Digitalization and Sustainability in Italian Farms.
- CREA (2025). Generational Renewal in Agriculture.
- European Commission (2024). Young Farmers Pact.