<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The research paper presents the results of research on the situation and trends in the age structure of farm owners or managers in Latvia. The growing world population and the challenges caused by climate change make farmers reconsider their traditional farming practices. Therefore, scientists believe that the aging of farmers is a major obstacle to the sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas, as evidenced by the age structure of European Union (EU) farmers and other agricultural workers. Generation renewal is crucial for sustainable land management and food production. In 2018, according to statistical data, the share of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in total gross value added in Latvia was only 3.8%. However, these sectors were the main job creators and drivers of economic development in rural areas. Therefore, <italic>the aim of the present research is</italic> to assess trends in the age structure of farm managers and owners and the policy instruments applied in Latvia. The results of the research show that despite the policy instruments implemented in Latvia after its accession to the EU to support young farmers and promote early retirement of farm owners, the aging process of farm owners and managers occurs relatively fast. The median age of farm owners and managers in Latvia has increased from 53 years in 2009 to 57 years in 2019, which could hinder the development of the agricultural industry and prevent the new challenge of growing global food demand and the negative impacts of climate change from being tackled.</p></abstract>

The research paper presents the results of research on the situation and trends in the age structure of farm owners or managers in Latvia. The growing world population and the challenges caused by climate change make farmers reconsider their traditional farming practices. Therefore, scientists believe that the aging of farmers is a major obstacle to the sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas, as evidenced by the age structure of European Union (EU) farmers and other agricultural workers. Generation renewal is crucial for sustainable land management and food production. In 2018, according to statistical data, the share of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in total gross value added in Latvia was only 3.8%. However, these sectors were the main job creators and drivers of economic development in rural areas. Therefore, the aim of the present research is to assess trends in the age structure of farm managers and owners and the policy instruments applied in Latvia. The results of the research show that despite the policy instruments implemented in Latvia after its accession to the EU to support young farmers and promote early retirement of farm owners, the aging process of farm owners and managers occurs relatively fast. The median age of farm owners and managers in Latvia has increased from 53 years in 2009 to 57 years in 2019, which could hinder the development of the agricultural industry and prevent the new challenge of growing global food demand and the negative impacts of climate change from being tackled.

Age Structure of Farm Owners and Managers: Problems and the Solutions Thereto in Latvia

Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies

Rural Sustainability Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The research paper presents the results of research on the situation and trends in the age structure of farm owners or managers in Latvia. The growing world...

Age Structure of Farm Owners and Managers: Problems and the Solutions Thereto in Latvia

Published Online: Dec 10, 2020

Page range: 15 - 26

Received: Oct 10, 2020

Accepted: Oct 28, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/plua-2020-0013

Keywords
agricultural holdings, age structure, managers, owners, support instruments

© 2020 Aleksejs Nipers et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Age Structure of Farm Owners and Managers: Problems and the Solutions Thereto in Latvia

Published Online: Dec 10, 2020

Page range: 15 - 26

Received: Oct 10, 2020

Accepted: Oct 28, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/plua-2020-0013

Keywordsagricultural holdings, age structure, managers, owners, support instruments

© 2020 Aleksejs Nipers et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
agricultural holdings, age structure, managers, owners, support instruments