Why Europe’s farmers are losing faith in the future

At nan commencement of 2024, Europe’s farmers caused widescale disruption by blocking traffic and dumping manure successful protestation of their compounding challenges, including tighter biology regularisation and declining incomes.

Despite this wide mobilisation, complete 1 twelvemonth connected nan business remains overmuch nan same. A Europe-wide survey, launched by CropLife Europe, successful business pinch Ipsos and Euronews, captures farmers’ sentiments successful 2025, reflecting a assemblage still successful turmoil. The discontent is palpable – 55 per cent are fresh to protestation again.

Drawing from farmers’ ain perspectives, we uncover nan authorities of European farming today, asking what, if anything, has changed since early 2024 and nan opportunities and challenges Europe is yet to address.

The authorities of play: an manufacture successful crisis

In 2024, half of nan 1,998 farmers surveyed by Ipsos crossed 9 cardinal European countries took to nan streets. Yet, a twelvemonth later, complete 90 per cent stay disappointed by nan deficiency of some actual argumentation betterment and engagement from authorities.

Worryingly, half of those surveyed estimated a worse economical business since past year, pinch wide concerns regarding regulatory and administrative burdens. Over two-thirds of respondents felt world title had intensified, a main origin of trouble for astir 1 successful 4 farmers. This is driven partially by challenges successful managing merchandise imports from countries pinch different regulatory standards.

Though support for ambiance adjustment was seen arsenic a privilege for only 18 per cent of respondents, ambiance alteration remains nan quiet crux of nan crisis. Green regulations attempting to undo decades of unsustainable practices are exposing vulnerabilities successful nan sector, leaving farmers without capable transitional support arsenic they carnivore nan brunt of biology diminution and worsening economical realities.

Economic woes persist for Europe’s farmers

In 2025, European farmers proceed to look mounting costs and dwindling revenues. Increasing input prices and insufficient trading prices are cited arsenic apical issues, pinch astir two-thirds of farmers seeing a worsened capacity to put successful caller devices aliases machines and galore percieving existent merchandise prices arsenic not allowing a capable profit margin.

Consequently, European farmers stay caught successful a rhythm of uncertainty and frustration, pinch astir half still struggling to screen basal workplace expenses.

Environmental regulations person compounded this situation, further impacting farmers’ returns. Real world examples of this tin beryllium seen successful France and Germany wherever farmers look nan extremity of substance subsidies, while successful nan Netherlands, farmers are nether mounting unit to trim livestock emissions. Droughts and h2o restrictions are besides impacting accumulation crossed ample parts of Europe, successful particular, Spain, Greece, and France.

Young farmers astir optimistic contempt challenges

Despite a broadly gloomy outlook, rays of optimism tin beryllium found. The occupation remains 1 of pridefulness and is still considered ‘rewarding’ and ‘necessary’ by a number of farmers successful nan sample.

Business occurrence persists arsenic nan number 1 logic to beryllium optimistic, particularly successful France. Achieving specified occurrence is progressively difficult, but Polish and Romanian farmers are much hopeful for a amended early successful agriculture than successful different countries.

Generally speaking, nan countries showing much optimism are nan countries facing less economical difficulties overall, including Romania, Ireland and nan Netherlands, contempt regulatory and administrative burdens still being reported.

Practical fixes: what could alteration nan outlook?

As economical pressures mount, Europe’s farmers are urging nan EU for targeted support to unafraid their livelihoods. Even successful nan astir optimistic countries, farmers consistently cited enhanced financial support and redistribution of profits on nan worth concatenation (82%) arsenic apical priorities for EU action, alongside regulatory and administrative simplification (65%).

One successful 3 farmers besides urged greater support for research, invention and entree to an effective ‘crop protection toolbox’ successful bid to mitigate ambiance impacts, trim costs and beryllium profitable.

CropLife Europe advocates for sustainable solutions specified arsenic precocious irrigation techniques, drought-resistant seeds and integer farming tools. However, implementation is only imaginable if authorities admit nan economical load of translator and nan societal imperative of investing successful farmers’ futures.

In nan coming weeks, we spell deeper into nan study, looking astatine imaginable solutions to reside nan farmers’ halfway concerns and inject immoderate overmuch needed optimism into nan European farming community. 

In this way, Europe whitethorn move from situation to resilience, securing not only nan early of its farmers but that of Europe’s full nutrient system.

For much insight, read nan afloat Ipsos report.