The Youth Policy Dialogue: a dynamic conversation between young farmers and the European Commissioner
In the morning, we worked with young farmers who hadn’t met before. In the afternoon, they opened the dialogue with the EU Commissioner by sharing their collective insights. A glimpse into the Youth Policy Dialogue on the future of agriculture in Europe, which I designed and facilitated in both 2025 and 2026.
How can the EU better support the next generation of farmers? This is the key question of the yearly Youth Policy Dialogue on agriculture, which brings together young farmers and rural youth from across Europe in a dialogue with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen. By listening to young people whose hands are deep in the daily work of farming, the Commissioner wants to better understand the challenges they face and the support they need. The aim is to develop and implement EU strategies with the next generation of farmers in mind.
A morning to prepare, an afternoon to be heard
Both in May 2025 in Brussels and in September 2026 in Dublin, we used the morning session as a preparatory meeting with the participants, supported by a few EU policy officers. The participants got to know each other, exchanged insights and ideas on several topics and, towards the end of the morning, converged on key messages they wanted to bring to the Commissioner in the afternoon. Imagine: lots of post-its, passionate conversations and, at times, a level of surprise at how things are going in other countries.
After lunch, the big moment came: the EU Commissioner arrived for the actual Youth Policy Dialogue. After his opening speech, participants’ representatives brought the key points harvested from the morning session to kick off the conversation. Then a dynamic exchange took place. Many participants contributed spontaneously, responding to each other and to the Commissioner. Real listening and learning happened. In the 2026 edition, we even welcomed Member of the European Parliament Maria Walsh as a special guest to share her perspectives and make the conversation even richer.
A good harvest
After designing, guiding and witnessing this dialogue twice as facilitator and moderator, I can tell you: the next generation of farmers cares. They long for economically viable farms that are innovative, environmentally friendly and embedded in society. I’m grateful to have experienced the amazing enthusiasm of these young people who think in decades rather than years. I agree with what one participant in the 2026 edition said: “What we are doing is unbelievable!”
Details and outcomes of the Youth Policy Dialogues are documented on the following webpages:
- Event page and event report 2025
- Event page 2026
- A story of one of the young voices in 2026: Renate Menkveld
The importance of facilitation
Do you bring diverse voices together? An intentionally designed and thougthfully guided conversation makes all the difference. Let’s explore how we can work together. You know where to find me.
Featured image: © European Union 2026
