Young farmers represent a real link between the established and future generations in agriculture. The younger generation of farmers, as leaders of tomorrow, is aware of and interested in the challenges posed by globalisation and world events. Therefore, it is important for them to be actively involved at the international level, where more and more decisions affecting their lives are being taken. Young farmers main concern is the sustainability of their profession.  This is important to help to sustain food production for a growing world population. It is also important for maintaining the vitality of the rural communities across the world. For this, they need to take a leadership role in proposing and developing new policy perspectives for the future. Strong agricultural organisations are essential to lobby for issues specifically related to the needs of young farmers such as setting up in agriculture and transferring farms to the new generation.

The IFAP Young Farmers' Committee was established in May 2002 at the IFAP World Farmers’ Congress held in Cairo. It seeks to foster exchanges between young farmers the world over and their involvement in international problems. It also focuses on young farmers’ specific concerns.

Officers of the Committee 2008-2010:

President: Kati Partanen (Finland), President
Vice-Presidents: Samuel Marechal (France), Virginia San Martin (Uruguay) and Daniel Moronge (Kenya)

• Young farmers feel that all countries should have a policy to facilitate the entry of young farmers into agriculture, and so assure transmission of farms to new generations.

• Therefore, the Young Farmers’ Committee aims at strengthening the ability to act of young farmers at different levels through:
  
  • institutions:  encourage young farmers to group together at the national, regional and local levels);
  • the training of future agricultural leaders who are able to advocate  their interests when dealing with various governing bodies;
  • technical and financial means.

• Develop north south exchanges between young farmers’ organisations with a view to capacity building