MaYA Foundation at EU Farming Vision Conference

“Farmers deserve better.” That was the message delivered by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a recorded video addressing the opening of the "Shaping the Future of Farming and the Agri-Food Sector" conference held in Brussels on 8 May 2025. Her statement set the tone for a day of dialogue, as she called for a renewed focus on farmers' realities. “The Commission got a bold message: slash red tape. More flexibility for small farmers. Fewer inspections. Less paperwork. More trust - so you can focus more on the farm and your family,” von der Leyen said, striking a chord with many in the room and watching online.

Organised by the European Commission, the hybrid conference gathered around 1,000 participants from all EU Member States. It aimed to bring together stakeholders to discuss how to develop a strong vision for EU agriculture and food systems that is sustainable, resilient, and attractive to future generations.

The Agriculture Commissioner, Christophe Hansen, offered a pragmatic yet forward-thinking message. “This Vision is the starting point to shape the new policy. We need feedback and to discuss. From vision to action,” he said.

Hansen acknowledged that many of the issues faced by farmers extend beyond the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). “We need to ask what is going wrong with current farming operations” he noted, highlighting the complex nature of farming challenges in today’s Europe.

He made it clear that the EU is seeking a meaningful policy change. “It’s evolution, not revolution,” he emphasised. “The CAP needs to provide stability in these unstable times.”

Malta Youth in Agriculture Foundation participates in Key EU Conference

Among the attendees was Jeanette Borg, representing the Malta Youth in Agriculture Foundation. “Participating in such a dialogue is important for our rural community. The MaYA Foundation is committed to advocating for generational renewal, innovation, sustainability, and ensuring a thriving economy.”

One of the most urgent themes discussed was generation renewal. Commissioner Hansen noted that Europe has lost thousands of farmers in recent years, and only about 9 million farms remain across the EU. Without fresh incentives and support for young entrants, the sector risks long-term decline. Farmers are crucial to the EU for many reasons, including food production, economic output and environmental stewardship. 

The active participation of young leaders like Jeanette Borg marked a step forward in giving visibility to emerging voices in EU policy-making. As the European Commission moves from consultation to implementation, voices from across Member states will be essential in shaping a farming future that is not only fit for purpose, but also fit for people.

Anne van Leewen - young female farmer addressing the conference.

Illustration by Julia Hoffmann from Mosaics and Circles 2025

“Evoluzzjoni” bħala t-tema ewlenija fil-konferenza dwar il-Viżjoni għall-Agrikoltura u l-Ikel fl-UE

“Il-bdiewa jixirqilhom aħjar.” Dan kien il-messaġġ ewlieni tal-President tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea, Ursula von der Leyen, fi vidjow ‘rrekordjat li ntwera’ waqt il-ftuħ tal-konferenza “Shaping the Future of Farming and the Agri-Food Sector” li saret fi Brussell fit-8 ta’ Mejju 2025. Il-messaġġ tagħha ta' appoġġ lejn il-bdiewa serva ta’ linja gwida għal ġurnata sħiħa ta’ djalogu. “Il-Kummissjoni rċeviet messaġġ ċar: inqas burokrazija. Aktar flessibbiltà għall-bdiewa ż-żgħar. Inqas spezzjonijiet. Inqas karti. Aktar fiduċja – sabiex tkunu tistgħu tiffokaw fuq ir-raba u l-familja tagħkom,” qalet von der Leyen, f’kummenti li laqtu ‘l ħafna minn dawk preżenti kif ukoll dawk li segwew online.

Il-konferenza hybrid, organizzata mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea, laqqgħet madwar 1,000 parteċipant minn kull Stat Membru tal-UE. L-għan ewlieni kien li jinħoloq spazju ta’ konverżazzjoni kostruttiva sabiex tinbena viżjoni soda għall-agrikoltura u s-sistemi tal-ikel fl-UE – viżjoni li tkun sostenibbli, reżiljenti u li tattira ġenerazzjonijiet ġodda.

Il-Kummissarju għall-Agrikoltura, Christophe Hansen, offra messaġġ pragmatiku iżda mmirat 'il quddiem. “Din il-Viżjoni hija biss il-bidu tal-proċess ta’ politika ġdida. Irridu nisimgħu, niddiskutu u nibdlu l-viżjoni f’azzjoni konkreta,” sostna Hansen.

Hu ammetta li ħafna mill-isfidi li qed jaffaċċjaw il-bdiewa u raħħala jmorru lil hinn mill-Politika Agrikola Komuni (PAK). “Irridu nistaqsu x’inhu sejjer ħażin fl-operat tas-settur agrikolu,” żied jgħid, waqt li tenna l-kumplessità ta’ dawn l-isfidi.

Għamilha ċara li l-UE qed tfittex biex issir bidla reali fil-politika agrikola: “Din mhix rivoluzzjoni, iżda evoluzzjoni,” saħaq. “Il-PAK għandha tkun garanzija ta’ stabbiltà f’dawn iż-żminijiet instabbli.”

Parteċipazzjoni mil-Fondazzjoni MaYA fil-Konferenza Ewlenija tal-UE

Fost dawk li attendew kienet Jeanette Borg, li rrappreżentat il-Fondazzjoni Żgħażagħ fl-Agrikoltura Malta (MaYA). “Il-parteċipazzjoni f’dan it-tip ta’ djalogu hija kruċjali għal-komunita rurali tagħna. Il-Fondazzjoni MaYA hija impenjata favur it-tiġdid ġenerazzjonali, l-innovazzjoni, is-sostenibbiltà u ekonomija b’saħħita.” qalet Borg.

Waħda mil iktar temi urġenti li ġew diskussi kienet il-kwistjoni tat-tiġdid ġenerazzjonali. Il-Kummissarju Hansen enfasizza li l-Ewropa tilfet eluf ta’ bdiewa f’dawn l-aħħar snin, u llum baqa’ biss madwar 9 miljun razzett fl-UE kollha. Mingħajr inizjattivi ġodda u appoġġ lill-bdiewa u raħħala żgħażagħ, is-settur jinsab f’riskju ta’ iktar tnaqqis. Il-bdiewa huma vitali għall-UE mhux biss għas-sigurtà tal-ikel, iżda wkoll għall-ekonomija u ħarsien ambjentali.

Il-parteċipazzjoni attiva ta’ mexxejja żgħażagħ bħal Jeanette Borg kienet pass importanti biex tingħata viżibilità u leħen lill-ġenerazzjonijiet li ġejjin fil-formulazzjoni tal-politiki Ewropej. Issa li l-Kummissjoni Ewropea se tibda tgħaddi mid-djalogu għall-azzjoni, il-kontribut minn kull rokna tal-UE se jkun kruċjali biex jinħoloq futur agrikolu li jkun tajjeb mhux biss għas-swieq, imma wkoll għal-komunita.