Equal treatment for all farms: Brandenburg's minister calls for changes!

Equal treatment for all farms: Brandenburg's minister calls for changes!

At a conference of the agriculture ministers of the federal states in Berlin on July 10, 2025, several important topics surrounding the future of the agricultural economy emerged. The focus is particularly on the demand for equal treatment of all agricultural businesses, regardless of their size. Brandenburg's Agriculture Minister Hanka Mittelstädt (SPD) emphasized that it is essential to maintain or even increase financial support for agricultural businesses.

The current discussion about the distribution of EU funds for farmers shows that large farms have so far benefited disproportionately. The EU Commission is therefore planning changes to the common agricultural policy (CAP) to create incentives that will particularly support farmers who actively participate in food production and protect the environment.

Generational change in agriculture

A central concern is the development of suitable funding instruments for generational change in agriculture. The challenges in recruiting and motivating suitable successors for agricultural businesses should not be underestimated. The Brandenburg State Farmers' Association (LBV) has already set itself the goal of supporting the recruitment of young farmers and women into management positions.

With a view to the future of agriculture, a thematic group of the EU-CAP network has also looked at Generation Z in agriculture. This group has developed recommendations to support future young farmers and provides a framework for navigating the agricultural landscape. Their focus is primarily on sustainability, resilience and the renewal of the sector.

Important areas of action

The Thematic Group's recommendations cover several important areas, such as:

• Bildung und Kompetenzentwicklung
• Zugang zu Land und finanzieller Unterstützung
• Nachhaltige Praktiken
• Direktzahlungen im Rahmen der Gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik (GAP)
• Soziale Dimension der Landwirtschaft
• Zugang zu Märkten und lokalen Lebensmitteln
• Netzwerke

The thematic group document contains practical examples of initiatives that address issues such as farm succession, access to land, generational change and sustainable agricultural practices. These examples illustrate the importance of tailor-made approaches for national and regional contexts.

Current developments in agriculture therefore require a rethink and new strategies to both support existing businesses and encourage future generations of farmers.

Further information on this can be found in the Süddeutsche Zeitung sueddeutsche.de and the EU CAP Network at eu-cap-network.ec.europa.eu.