Policy directions to support generational renewal in European farming systems

This article is based on part of the SURE-Farm research, wherein in-depth interviews with farm stakeholders created insight into the decision-making processes regarding GR. The farm stakeholders interviewed were active or retired farmers, their partners, (potential) successors, siblings of (potential) successors, farm workers and farm managers. Across the 11 European farming systems (Meuwissen et al., this issue), a total of 157 interviews, clustered around 86 farm businesses, were analysed while taking into account the particular phase of the business lifecycle they are in, i.e. before, during or after take-over.
The study approach required interviewees in one farm business to either be related to each other (in the case of family farming) or to have a professional relationship (in the case of corporate farms), allowing a more comprehensive understanding of the interpersonal dynamics that can influence decisions impacting GR in agriculture. All interviews were subjected to a thematic analysis, first on a case-by-case basis and in a later stage through a cross-case integration.