Irish farming faces a generational crossroads, with young people enjoying "far more career choices than previous generations".

That is according to the president of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), Edward Carr, who today (Thursday, November 5) warned that only 4% of farmers in this country are under 35.

Carr said that with young people having more career choices and barriers to entering agriculture still high, the challenge now is how can farming attract the next generation?

Speaking at the Ag Renew Ireland Summit today he highlighted that Ireland has 130,000 farms but over a third of the people who farm those farms are now over 65.

"In this context, how do we make farming a career of choice, in which young people can see a future, raise a family and a drive forward their businesses from which they can earn a viable and sustainable living?" Carr said.

The ICOS president believes the warning signs are stark and the question is no longer just who is farming today, but who will be farming tomorrow?

Young farmers

The generational crisis facing agriculture took centre stage at the AgRenew Ireland Summit today.

The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, also warned that more than nine in 10 farmers could reach retirement age within the next 25 years.

In a video address to the event, Commissioner Hansen said the case for generational renewal is clear.

"If we want fridges and supermarket shelves to stay full, this is the hard truth we must face," he said.

According to the commissioner co-ops have an important role "to play in making generational renewal a reality".

"They bring farming, processing, retail and international markets under one roof. Open young farmers to international markets and already contribute to the main priorities of the EU strategy for generational renewal," the commissioner added.

He also stressed that the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) "must support the whole journey of generational renewal".