Latest Blog: Macra na Feirme Conference; Agri-Food Strategy Group report; Michael Dillon memorial lecture - Main contents

On Saturday I was truly delighted to be able to address the annual conference of the Irish young farmers' association, Macra na Feirme, at Macroom in County Cork.

On Saturday I was truly delighted to be able to address the annual conference of the Irish young farmers' association, Macra na Feirme, at Macroom in County Cork. As a former branch president during my time as an undergraduate at University College Cork, I was honoured to speak to current members alongside another former president who now leads the European Young Farmers Organisation, CEJA. Macra has been a mainstay of Irish rural life for generations, and I am certain it will continue to be s o for generations to come. Since being appointed Commissioner, I have travelled widely throughout the EU meeting Young Farmers Organisations and I am always proud to tell them that their Irish counterparts, of which I was a member myself, have a number of excellent initiatives that they could learn from. Indeed, members of Macra can be particularly proud of the organisation's central contribution to making young farmers a major priority of the new CAP reform. I believe that European farmers can and must face the future with real ambition, and my main message to Macra members was that the Commission is firmly on the side of young farmers.

Saturday's conference was not only a wonderful opportunity to address this emerging generation, but also a vital chance to bear personal witness to their ambition, energy and vision for agriculture. The stark reality is that the farming community around Europe is ageing. The CAP has therefore prioritised young farmers to drive the generational renewal of the sector. The future of European agriculture and the rural economy depends largely on the willingness and capability of the younger generation to choose farming and agri-business as a lifestyle and main source of income. That is why the reformed CAP aims to encourage young people to set up or take over agricultural holdings. It also seeks to diversify income opportunities by providing non-agricultural opportunities in rural areas.

And indeed, two pieces of positive news this week indicate the potential for a brighter future for young farmers across Europe. I was firstly glad to note a further stabilisation in market prices for all EU dairy products. Secondly, the decision taken by the Canada government on Monday last to re-open its market for imports of European beef from 19 EU Member States is a good development.

In order to exploit the full potential of these encouraging developments in the global demand for European agri-food produce, there is a vital need for long-term strategic thinking. For this reason, I was honoured to speak at two important events on Friday last in Dublin, which offered an opportunity to articulate a concrete vision for the future of European agriculture. Friday afternoon saw me launch the Agri-Food Strategy Group's synthesis report, 'Irish Agriculture: Getting Better As Well As Bigger'. I am always encouraged when Member States take the initiative to prepare their farmers and agri-food sectors for the 21st Century. And many of the report's core themes - from financial sustainability to food chain integration, from environmental resilience to research and innovation - strongly reflect my own priorities as EU Commissioner.

On Friday evening I had the great honour to deliver the 7th biannual Michael Dillon Memorial Lecture organised by the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Ireland, with the support of the Kerry Group plc. The late Michael Dillon was one of Ireland's foremost agricultural journalists, and so it was fitting that I had the opportunity to honour his great contribution to Irish agriculture with a prospectus of my own vision for the European agri-food sector. To ensure the supply of safe and sustainably produced high-quality food for our citizens, while guaranteeing a sustainable livelihood for our farmers, is the goal. This must involve looking beyond existing horizons, and having the ambition to expand to meet an emerging global demand for high quality agricultural produce: this is why access to new markets is a top priority for me. Moreover, production must increase, while environmental and climate challenges are met head-on. In other words, we have to produce more, using less. But if we are serious about being genuine global leaders in smart and sustainable agriculture, we have to prioritise investment, innovation and collaboration. European farmers and agribusinesses can and must rise to this challenge. And as EU policymakers, we must do everything in our power to pave the way.