Farm Diversification: Notes from the EU CAP Network Thematic Group Meeting

On 4 February 2026, the first meeting of the EU CAP Network Thematic Group (TG) on Farm Diversification took place in Brussels. On behalf of MaYA, I was among the participants contributing to the discussions on how European farms can strengthen their resilience and sustainability through diversification.

The Thematic Group (TG) brought together 40 participants from 21 EU Member States, selected from a pool of 129 applications. Members represented a wide range of stakeholders including farmers, advisory services, managing authorities, researchers, networks and local action groups, all with a shared interest in exploring how farm diversification can support rural economies and social and environmental sustainability

Why diversification matters

Across Europe, many farmers are struggling to sustain their livelihoods due to volatile markets, rising input costs, climate change impacts and geopolitical uncertainty. At MaYA, we believe diversification offers a way to reduce this vulnerability by developing non-agricultural activities such as rural tourism, renewable energy, direct marketing, processing or social farming. These additional income sources can help stabilise farm revenues, create local jobs and revitalise rural areas.

Main objectives of the Thematic Group

The meeting aimed to: 

• Explore how farm-based businesses are capitalising on the opportunities offered by diversification. 

• Discuss how Member States are supporting diversification through various CAP interventions. 

• Begin assessing the effectiveness of current CAP frameworks in unlocking the potential of farm diversification.

Key discussions and insights

The group examined both EU-wide and regional experiences through the intervention of key speakers. First, Jan Willem van der Schans (EU CAP Network) provided an overview of farm diversification trends and challenges, noting that around 25% of EU farms engage in non-agricultural activities, which generate roughly 5% of total farm output. He highlighted the importance of coordinated CAP measures, from investment support to cooperation through LEADER and EIP-AGRI, to help farmers transition successfully. Secondly, Elisabeth Bogner (Bavarian Farmers’ Association, Germany) presented data showing that 66% of Bavarian farms have diversified income streams such as renewable energy, tourism or direct marketing. She emphasised that diversification strengthens farm resilience but requires targeted support and simplified administrative procedures. And lastly, Isabel Picão de Abreu (ADER-AL, Portugal) shared a LEADER perspective, highlighting the role of local action groups in supporting small-scale diversification projects through bottom-up approaches. She noted that while there is strong local demand for such initiatives, funding and flexibility remain key challenges.

Looking ahead

Participants discussed success factors, challenges and opportunities for enhancing CAP support for diversification. The discussions will contribute to the TG’s future work, which will include developing recommendations and sharing best practice examples for policymakers and practitioners across the EU.

The second meeting of the Thematic Group is scheduled to take place in May 2026 in Rome, when members will continue to build on the insights gathered in Brussels.

About the author: Janie is the Network Manager at Merill Rural Network and a close collaborator of MaYA. Not only is she directly involved in farming herself, she works closely with other farmers, breeders and artisans to support the diversification of their livelihoods through local cultural and culinary tourism experiences. With a strong understanding of the Maltese agricultural context and farming sector, her recent Masters, and tour guiding activities, Janie embraces the cultural and social potential of farms, and attended this TG with the objective to accelerate collaboration, knowledge exchange and  innovation within rural areas.