Practical solutions for bringing in a new generation of farmers

Within a few years, half of France’s farmers will retire. However, the rate at which new farmers are entering the industry remains insufficient to ensure a new generation of farmers: nearly 21,000 new farmers would be needed each year, compared with about 13,000 today. While the Agricultural Policy Act (LOA) adopted in February 2025 aims to facilitate the processes of setting up and transferring farms, many candidates—particularly those without a farming background—are still seeking appropriate support. On the ground, initiatives supported by the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation are experimenting with alternative ways to support these new types of candidates, while using their establishment as a catalyst for agroecological transition.

“I had earned a vocational certification, but I felt it wasn’t enough. It was too theoretical. I needed to see different ways of doing things—how to get started, on my own or as part of a group, on different farms… Above all, I needed to feel more confident and competent before taking the plunge.”

After an initial career in land-use planning, Félix is now preparing to become a farmer-baker. Like him, an increasing number of aspiring farmers are not from farming backgrounds. In fact, they’ve been given an acronym: “NIMA,” short for “Non Issus du Milieu Agricole” (Not from a Farming Background). They come with different backgrounds, different skills, and different plans.

Their arrival is a response to a demographic challenge. Between 2010 and 2020, France lost nearly one in five farmers*. And within a few years, a large portion of those still working will retire, with no one to take over their farms or the possibility of passing them down to family members. Without successors, their farms risk being absorbed by neighboring operations to help them expand. Supporting the establishment of new farmers, therefore, also means choosing to promote the preservation of a diverse range of smaller-scale farms.

But these new vocations also present an opportunity to transform agricultural models. A significant portion of these “new-generation farmers” are pursuing projects focused on market gardening, diversified livestock farming, or on-farm processing—all inspired by agroecology and short supply chains. “The common misconception is that food sovereignty can only be based on large-scale farms. Yet there is a whole invisible network of farms operating under sustainable models that are thriving and should be better supported , ” adds the team at the association SOL.

*Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Agreste, 2020 Agricultural Census (2021)

At the Ferme de l’Envol (Es), vegetable farming, livestock raising, and on-farm processing come together to form a human-scale agricultural model based on agroecology, diversity, and local food systems.

However, the settlement programs must enable these new applicants to find their place and solidify their plans. The state-supervised program does not always address the diversity of situations, particularly those of people without a farming background (NIMA). Some struggle to find appropriate support, while others turn to alternative solutions or opt out of the national program, particularly when they are not eligible for the Young Farmers Grant (DJA) or find the process too burdensome.

The Agricultural Policy Act (LOA), adopted in February 2025, aims to expand this support through the creation of France Services Agriculture and a “startup” track. These advances should better account for the diversity of applicants, but there are still unmet needs.

It is precisely in these gaps that the community-based initiatives supported by the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation find their place: farmer mentorship programs, agricultural pilot projects, and support for local collectives or platforms. These are all complementary solutions designed to facilitate the establishment of new farms and promote more local, agroecological, and resilient agriculture.

Farm Apprenticeships to Learn the trade alongside an experienced farmer

Annette thought she knew the agricultural world. As an agricultural engineer, she already had technical knowledge when she decided to switch careers to organic vegetable farming. But how can you know if a project is truly right for you until you’ve tried it? “I needed hands-on training in the trade of vegetable farming. The time I spent in the fields, combined with discussions with my mentor, helped me make progress not only with the crops but also with financial planning and investments. Now, I’ve found a plot of land and am preparing to set up my business.”

This engagement with reality is the guiding principle of the farmers’ mentorship program, an initiative jointly supported by SOL and the network of ADEAR, in collaboration with mentor farms. For two and a half months, aspiring farmers share the daily life of one or more farms and, in doing so, learn the ropes, take part in decision-making, and question technical and economic choices—all while continuing to develop their own project with their mentor.

For Salomé Le Bourligu, head of advocacy for agricultural establishment and renewal at SOL, this immersive experience addresses a challenge that project leaders constantly face. “Many people take advantage of various programs but lack concrete guidance. The mentorship program was born out of the idea of combining hands-on training with long-term support.”

The days aren’t just about farm work, by the way. Every week, time is set aside for discussions with the mentor: crop planning, investments, work organization, setting up a collective farm… “To run a farm, you have to be good in the field… but also in the office. And that’s something we often don’t show the trainees,” observes Hugues, a livestock farmer in the Gers. Now that he’s become a mentor, he understands how valuable it is: “I received a tremendous amount of help when I was setting up my farm. Now, I want to give back.”

Through ongoing discussions and experiences, the project for future farmers continues to take shape. After earning his vocational certificate in agricultural operations management (BPREA)—a mandatory requirement for aspiring farmers seeking startup grants—Félix still felt that something essential was missing. “I wanted to see different approaches. The mentorship program was exactly what I was looking for. I needed to meet different people to feel more confident and competent.” Gaining access to expertise also means gaining access to a professional network and a place within the local community.

At the Arbolèts, Raguet, and Coume farms, apprenticeship programs allow future farmers to gain real-world experience, acquire practical skills, and develop their own projects alongside experienced farmers.

This growing confidence also benefits the farms that host SOL interns. Benjamin and Philippine, vegetable farmers at the Collectif fermier des Arbolèts, explain that every time they host an intern, it prompts them to reevaluate their own practices. “It makes us question how we pass on our knowledge , ” Benjamin explains. Philippine sees it as a form of continuity: “ We were lucky to have received good training when we first started out. Now, it’s nice to be able to give back.”

Basile echoes this sentiment; his farm regularly welcomes aspiring farmers. “The farming mentorship program was very interesting to us because sharing organic and small-scale farming is something close to our hearts,” he explains. “When we were looking for new partners, we wanted people who already had experience. But if we want farmers to come in with experience, we have to give them the opportunity to gain it. Small-scale farming is demanding. There aren’t many places to learn it.”

As the mentoring programs progressed, another reality became clear to the SOL teams. Women, who now make up the majority of those receiving support, face specific challenges. Often involved in agroecological projects on small plots of land, they struggle more to access financing— “At the bank, they’re often asked where their husbands are , ” notes Salomé Le Bourligu—and more frequently face a sense of lacking legitimacy.

To address these needs, a dedicated support program for future women farmers has gradually been developed to remove these invisible barriers. “The issues of legitimacy, self-confidence, and access to farms managed by women farmers are essential. These are models that are still very rare in traditional farm-startup pathways. This is a real added value of the mentorship program,” emphasizes Ariane Vivien, coordinator of farm-startup programs at SOL.

The program’s results confirm its impact and relevance: 60% of the beneficiaries from the most recent cohorts are currently in the process of setting up their businesses.

Testing your installation project under real-world conditions with agricultural test sites

For those planning to start a farm, another question is just as crucial: Will their business plan hold up? To find out, some choose to go through an agricultural pilot program—a step that allows them to test their business for 1 to 3 years (2 years on average) before settling in permanently. “It’s kind of like a dress rehearsal, but with a safety net. You test out your business and can decide not to continue. And if you stop, you’re not in debt, ” explains a participant in the Reneta, the National Network of Agricultural Test Sites.

Project leaders develop their businesses on a partner farm or at a dedicated test site, with legal status, land, equipment, and support that enable them to produce, sell, and manage their operations under conditions similar to those they would face when establishing their own farms.

“Some want to see if they like the line of work, while others want to assess the economic viability of their project, find out if it’s a good fit for the region, if they’ll be able to handle the physical demands, or if this activity is compatible with their family life,” explains Jean-Baptiste Cavalier, Reneta’s National Coordinator. “Our role is to enable them to test everything they need to test.”

At the agricultural test sites Les Champs des Possibles (Essonne) and L’Essor Maraicher (Tarn), aspiring farmers test their business plans under real-world conditions, giving them time to produce, sell, and learn before taking the plunge and setting up their own farms.

The challenge, then, is to put an installation project to the test in every respect—choosing technical solutions, finding suppliers, building a customer base, organizing work schedules, and dealing with the unforeseen challenges of an agricultural season. “It’s a real-world experiment,” confirms Mélanie Castelle, a mentor at the Les Champs des Possibles, one of the oldest in the Île-de-France region. “ Participants take on the role of an entrepreneur, but administrative and accounting tasks are handled collectively. And the trial is reversible.”

Test sites allow for a gradual rollout of the operation, providing the extended time needed to establish the project under favorable conditions. This is especially true since 94% of the people participating in the test sites are either transitioning into a new career or do not come from an agricultural background. “For NIMAs, gradually acquiring the skills and means of production is much more realistic. You have to take the time to assess what the profession really requires,” emphasizes Jean-Baptiste Cavalier. The result: nearly two-thirds of participants set up their own operations at the end of the program, while the remaining third is split between pursuing employment in agriculture or abandoning the project.

Beyond experimentation, pilot projects also serve as a gateway to a region. Many take place on farms where a project could later be considered, or in community spaces that allow people to experiment with working together before, in some cases, forming a partnership.

Establishing a Presence in a Region Through Local Partnerships

A majority of candidates seeking to establish themselves on farms have projects in organic farming, short supply chains, or agroecology, but arrive without a professional network, often without land, and with backgrounds very far removed from the agricultural world. “For a long time, these people were not considered legitimate candidates. Yet today, they constitute the main pool of future farmers,” observes Felix Tuchais, Coordinator of Farm Establishment, Succession, Agroecology, and Advocacy at the CIVAM (Centers for Initiatives to Promote Agriculture and Rural Areas), an organization that supports 1,500 project leaders each year.

For the CIVAMs, solutions to agricultural challenges must be rooted in peer-to-peer exchanges, collective projects, and a strong connection to the local community. “ The DNA of the CIVAMs is collective support,” summarizes the coordinator. Depending on the region, this can take various forms: discussion groups among project leaders, “cafés” dedicated to helping new farmers get started, support for agricultural collectives, pilot projects… or even access to the Passerelles Paysannesplatform—co-created with other organizations such as SOL and Reneta—which guides future farmers toward the structures and programs best suited to their projects.

Because supporting a new operation isn’t just about developing a business model. “It’s also a life project. Beyond grants and technical training, there must be strong personal support. ” This approach leads CIVAMs to get involved not only before farmers set up their operations but also afterward, when the first challenges arise. Discussion groups among support providers have thus been created to share experiences and better support new farmers.

At Pays’en Graine—the Dordogne Agricultural Testing Center—support is provided through a collective approach: exchanges among project leaders, networking, and local ties enable future farmers to plan their setup in a way that is closely aligned with the realities of the region.

Another issue is also a key focus for the CIVAM network, mirroring the topic of farm succession. Farmers who wish to sell their farms often wait too long to plan their departure, even though they intend to pass their farms on, risking having their farms sold to expand another farm. That is why several CIVAM groups organize meetings between farmers, conduct awareness-raising campaigns, and work with local authorities to initiate dialogue with those planning to sell. This may even involve adapting the farms to the plans of future owners if those plans differ. “We’re currently considering a training program called ‘Talking About Succession Among Peers’ to give farmers the tools they need to discuss this complex topic, even among fellow farmers,” adds Félix Tuchais.

For the CIVAMs, a sustainable agricultural operation depends not only on a farm’s economic viability but also on its “livability”—in other words, its ability to integrate into the local community, forge connections, and collectively foster a resolutely agroecological approach to agriculture.

Ensure that these support services are sustained over the long term

Whether it’s farmer mentoring programs, agricultural pilot sites, or regional support networks, all of these initiatives help ensure a smooth transition to farming while fostering the emergence of a more local, sustainable, and community-rooted agricultural sector. The results demonstrate their impact. After participating in a mentoring program, 88% of participants report feeling better prepared to start their farming business. In agricultural pilot projects, 62% of participants go on to establish their own farms at the end of the program.

Yet all these stakeholders agree on the same paradox. While these programs have proven their worth in the field, they remain insufficiently known to both project leaders and the professionals who advise them at the Chambers of Agriculture. Their development remains fragile and relies on external funding or support from foundations such as the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation. “Many people might be interested in the test sites, but they don’t know about them,” Reneta notes with regret. As for SOL, the association points out that mentorship is still not recognized in official training and startup programs, which limits its implementation and sometimes deprives beneficiaries of a solution tailored to their profile.

In this context, several networks are now calling for these initiatives to be better aligned with public policy. The creation of the future one-stop shop France Services Agriculture could be a decisive step forward, provided that these alternative systems are fully integrated into it.

Because renewing the pool of farmers isn’t just about funding start-ups. It’s also about giving those who choose this profession the time to learn, experiment, ask questions, meet other farmers, and build a sustainable business. Since people from non-farming backgrounds make up the main pool of future farmers, these support programs are no longer merely supplementary measures. They have become one of the key drivers of generational renewal and the agroecological transition.

Source: Observatory on Support for Farm Establishment and Succession—CIVAM 2025. Study conducted among 285 prospective farmers and 65 farm owners preparing to transfer their farms, all of whom received support from CIVAM.

Photo credits: © Caroline Peyronel; © Les Champs des Possibles; © Reneta