The European Commission Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development has launched a new consultation on family farming. According to their website, the importance of family farming within the European Union cannot be overstated, with the majority of the EU’s 12 million farms being family farms, passed down from one generation to another.
From 2 August to 11 October 2013, citizens, organisations and public authorities in the European Union and beyond who are interested in the topic of family farming are invited to contribute. The process has been opened ahead of upcoming EU conference set to take place in Brussels on 29 November 2013. The conference – Family farming: A dialogue towards more sustainable and resilient farming in Europe and the world – will examine the role of family farming and some of the key challenges it faces, as well as identifying future priorities for family farming. Admission to the conference is by invitation only, but it will be possible to follow the work of the conference via webstreaming.
The event is being held in the context of the UN’s declaration of 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming.
Those wishing to take part in the consultation process can do so by filling out an online questionnaire or by submitting a paper. Find out more on the EU Commission website.
