Farming: at the heart of our life Producing our food, taking care of the environment and making sure our countryside thrives

Did you know …? There are 28 Member States in the European Union (EU). There are 500 million consumers. 77 % 47 % 30 % Over 77 % of the EU is rural (47 % farmland, 30 % forest).

Did you know …? Farming and the agri-food industries represent 44 million jobs and 7 % of the EU’s GDP. There are around 11 million farms in the EU, employing roughly 22 million farmers and farmworkers.

Did you know …? The EU supports farmers and helps them to: produce enough safe and quality food for all EU citizens; preserve the environment; keep the countryside alive.

Introducing John and Martha John and Martha run a 12-hectare farm (about 20 football pitches in size). This is the average size of a farm in the EU. They grow cereal crops, raise sheep and produce cheese (from sheep’s milk).

Producing healthy, safe and nutritious food EU farmers produce a huge range of food and drink. Each year they produce: 10 million tonnes of apples, 140 million tonnes of milk, and 300 million tonnes of cereals.

Producing healthy, safe and nutritious food It is a complex process — from the farm to our plates. Thanks to farmers, we enjoy safe, high-quality, traceable and sustainably produced food.

1. High-quality food John and Martha’s sheep graze outdoors and eat the grass they need to be healthy and to produce high-quality milk. This milk is processed into cheese.

1. High-quality food Their cheese bears the EU’s organic logo — it is produced following strict rules, such as respecting the environment and animal welfare. Their farm is inspected every year to make sure that they follow the rules.

2. Traceable food — From farm to fork John and Martha put ear tags on the lambs born on their farm. Each tag has a code that identifies the lamb. This means that if a lamb is sold at the market, its buyer knows where it came from.

2. Traceable food — From farm to fork Other products in the EU can also be traced — e.g. eggs and their packaging (size and the method of production). As consumers, this means we know more about how our food was produced.

Protecting our environment Farmers rely on our natural resources (e.g. soil, water) for their day-to-day living. This means they need to preserve them and to take care of the land they work. In this way, they safeguard our biodiversity and help fight climate change.

1. Sustainable farming —For future generations John and Martha use sustainable farming methods. They rotate their crops to make sure the soil has enough nutrients. They save water by collecting rainwater to use on the farm. They plant and maintain trees to boost air quality.

1. Sustainable farming — For future generations By using natural resources wisely, farmers help ensure that land remains productive and that we can continue to enjoy the countryside in the future.

2. Preserving our biodiversity Plants, animals, birds and insects are necessary for a healthy countryside. John and Martha take care of the hedgerows on their land and make sure not to cut them during the bird nesting season. They keep grassland where wildflowers that attract bees and other insects can grow.

2. Preserving our biodiversity John and Martha use organic, farmyard and green manures that don’t contain harmful chemicals. In this way, they preserve and encourage biodiversity on their farm.

3. Fighting climate change Climate change brings challenges for farmers, such as drought and water shortages or winter storms. John and Martha use sustainable farming methods that help to preserve natural resources.

3. Fighting climate change They take steps to safeguard and encourage biodiversity on their land. They also generate some of their farm’s electricity (solar panels have been installed). These are all ways of helping to fight climate change.

4. Combating food waste Every year 90 million tonnes of food are thrown away in the EU (during production, distribution and consumption). This is a waste of the resources (energy, fuel, time and water) that went into growing, harvesting, storing, packaging, transporting, marketing and cooking the food.

4. Combating food waste John and Martha try to reduce the food wasted on their farm by harvesting, storing and transporting their cereal crops as efficiently as possible. They also compost the food that they throw away as consumers.

Ensuring a vibrant countryside Farming is the most important economic activity in rural areas, with local jobs often linked to processing farm produce. Without farmers there would be little to keep some rural communities alive — especially in areas where farming is difficult (hilly, mountainous or remote areas).

1. New horizons — New opportunities John and Martha have renovated their barn into guest rooms for visitors. They employ two local staff to help out when things get busy.

1. New horizons — New opportunities They organise cheese- making workshops for visitors to learn how their EU-certified organic cheese is made. They sell their cheese at markets, in their shop and online via a website they have created. All these activities benefit the local community — bringing new jobs and more visitors to the area, and introducing its produce to more consumers.

2. The future of farming 6% John and Martha’s two children, Jimmy and Anna, are not interested in becoming farmers. Only 6 % of farmers in the EU are under 35 years old (around 900 000 farmers).

Who will grow our food in years to come? 2. The future of farming Who will grow our food in years to come? Being a farmer is a demanding job, but for John and Martha it is more than just a job, it is a passion that they find highly rewarding.

3. Farming in the 21st century John and Martha use science and technology in their everyday work, e.g. to predict the weather or check nitrogen levels in the soil. Technology can help farmers to produce more food in a sustainable way, i.e. to produce more with less (less water, less energy, fewer fertilisers). This is vital as the world’s population is growing (9 billion by 2050). This can also bring new jobs and opportunities to rural communities.

Summary Farmers produce healthy, safe, nutritious food. They follow strict standards and procedures, e.g. for organic products. Some foodstuffs are traceable so that consumers know where their food comes from. Farmers preserve natural resources and protect the environment. They use sustainable methods that don’t harm the environment. They safeguard and encourage biodiversity. All of these actions help fight climate change.

Summary Farmers are an essential part of rural communities, helping them to thrive. The lack of young farmers in the EU is a challenge for the future. Farmers today are business people, diversifying their activities and looking for new opportunities. They benefit from new technology and innovation, which open up new markets and horizons. They help create new jobs and increase economic growth in our rural communities.

How many farmers are there in the EU? Questions How many farmers are there in the EU? Which EU quality label does John and Martha’s cheese have? What rules does this mean they have to follow? Can you give two examples of sustainable farming measures that John and Martha take? How many tonnes of cereal do farmers in the EU like John and Martha produce each year?

Questions How many tonnes of food waste are thrown away in the EU each year? Why is it important for farmers to produce more food with less (less water, less energy, fewer fertilisers)? How many farmers under 35 years old are there in the EU? What are the farmers doing for society, besides producing food? What are the three ‘roles’ that farmers play?

Find out more DG Agriculture and Rural Development ec.europa.eu/agriculture/ index_en.htm