Opinion: attracting more young people and more females into the sector will bring innovative approaches to farming in the future
By Mary Curtin and Caroline Murphy, University of Limerick
Over three days in September, more than a quarter of a million people will attend the National Ploughing Championships. But who are they - and do they represent the future of Irish farming? According to the most recent national statistics, almost one third of all farm holders are 65 or over with less than 7% under the age of 35, while females still make up less than 14% of all farm holders in Ireland.
Sustainability is a high priority for the future of Irish farming and changing the demographic of the farming community is an important part of that. Attracting more young people and more females into the sector will add more innovative approaches to farming in the future. The inclusion of young and female farmers will help bring competitiveness and innovation and will also mean that the best use is being made of the mixture of skills and talents possessed by all farmers.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Today With Claire Byrne, young farmers Helena Coughlan and Sean Roddy on climate change and Irish agriculture
The continued success of Irish agriculture is dependent on this next generation of farmers and therefore succession and planning are key and we need to respond properly to the challenges facing this important sector. There is a need to diversify the farming community and in connecting young people with the sector.
There is a clear business case for more young people and females in farming, but the industry must be attractive for them. We need to show young people that farming is advantageous and pragmatic in terms of increasing the diversity of views and optimising the potential for the industry.
The Vision Beef and Sheep Group recognised that women and young farmers bring new skills and thinking and are therefore key for the adoption of new technologies and measures to reduce emissions. Having a more diverse profile of farmers in the future will help us to navigate what is to come and ensure that farming and agriculture will continue to thrive.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Countrywide, Wicklow based farmer John Kelly from the Understanding Agriculture Co-op and Teagasc's Dr Aine Macken Walsh on the importance of connection between farmers and the general public
It is in every person's interest that our food is produced in the most sustainable way and diversity in the farming community is seen as enhancing sustainability. Farming is vital to rural areas and the family farm model is still the predominant Irish system and necessary for the social sustainability of our rural communities.
Farming is important to everyone because farmers are the primary producers of our food. There are many issues being faced in farming, from climate change to economic viability, and bringing young people and females into the discussion is necessary. Currently, we are overlooking the talents of so many of the farming population, something which does not make sense in either a social justice or economic context.
Farmers are the custodians and caretakers of the land and know better than anyone the importance of soil health and nature
Farmers are on the frontline everyday dealing with tumultuous weather conditions, from unprecedented wet weather to sustained dry weather. This summer alone saw the warmest June on record for Ireland, followed by July being one of the wettest.
Farmers are the custodians and caretakers of the land and know better than anyone the importance of soil health and nature. They are part of a legacy of people who have toiled and dedicated their lives to the animals and crops in their care and to the ground they depend on. As the proverb goes, when the blood in your veins returns to the sea, and the earth in your bones returns to the ground, perhaps then you will remember that this land does not belong to you, it is you who belong to this land.
Dr Mary Curtin is a lecturer at the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick. Dr Caroline Murphy is a Senior Lecturer in Employment Relations at the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick. She is a former Irish Research Council awardee
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
