• Organised by CIHEAM Zaragoza, in collaboration with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the SafeHabitus project, this international symposium will take place on 30 September and 1 October 2026 in Zaragoza, Spain.
• The symposium aims to analyse how economic, labour, skills and territorial factors shape entry and permanence in the agriculture sector, and identify pathways that enhance its attractiveness, sustainability and renewal, particularly for young people.

About the Symposium

“Who will farm tomorrow — and under what conditions?” This is the central question driving a two-day international symposium that CIHEAM Zaragoza, in collaboration with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the SafeHabitus project, is organising for 30 September and 1 October 2026 in Zaragoza, Spain.

The agricultural sector, as the backbone of broader agri-food systems, is undergoing a deep structural transformation, raising urgent questions about its long-term economic, social and territorial sustainability. Generational renewal, farm succession and the attractiveness of agricultural careers are not purely demographic issues — they are shaped by a broader set of factors: employment conditions, access to productive resources, organisational models, rural living conditions and evolving societal expectations. Across the Mediterranean region, these dynamics take diverse forms, reflecting variations in demographic structures, labour markets, territorial contexts and institutional frameworks that make uniform solutions inadequate.

This symposium provides an evidence-based space to analyse how economic, social, institutional and territorial factors interact to shape the attractiveness of the agri-food sector across the Mediterranean, with particular attention to young people and the future of family farming. While recognising structural constraints, it also seeks to identify existing and emerging opportunities linked to innovation, new organisational models and new ways of living in rural territories.

The event will bring together approximately 40 speakers and 100 invited guests who will attend in person, with online attendance open to the general public. It is designed for policymakers, researchers, sector actors, youth and women representatives, and civil society organisations with an interest in the future of agriculture and rural territories across the Mediterranean and beyond. The programme has been developed with the support of a Scientific-Technical Committee, which has advised on the design and structure of thematic sessions and contributed to the identification of key speakers and participants.

Approach

The symposium approaches renewal and attractiveness in the agri-food sector as core structural dynamics, shaped by the interaction of economic, social, institutional, territorial and sector-specific factors. Renewal is understood not as a purely demographic process, but as one conditioned by the organisation of production, labour relations, access to resources, living conditions in rural areas and public policy frameworks.

The analysis is grounded in the economics of agricultural activity. Issues such as profitability, income stability, access to land and finance, production costs and working conditions are treated as determinants of both entry into and permanence within the sector. Innovation is considered in a broad sense — encompassing not only technological change but also organisational, business and governance models that may influence viability.

A territorial perspective underpins the entire discussion, recognising that decisions about agricultural careers are embedded in broader rural contexts. Access to services, infrastructure, education, housing, complementary employment opportunities and overall quality of life are treated as key factors shaping the sector's attractiveness. Gender and generational dimensions are integrated transversally, examining how institutional arrangements, labour markets and access to resources may create differentiated opportunities or barriers for women and young people.

Finally, the symposium takes an inclusive Mediterranean perspective, building its analysis upon evidence and direct contributions from across the whole region, with the aim of identifying convergences, divergences and context-specific dynamics that can inform policy, innovation and practice.

Why this Matters

This symposium is situated within a complex international policy landscape. Key reference frameworks include:

• The United Nations Decade of Family Farming (2019–2028)
• The EU Strategy for Generational Renewal in Agriculture (2025)
• The African Union CAADP Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035)
• The Sustainable Arab Agricultural Development Strategy (2020–2030), adopted by the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development under the auspices of the League of Arab States, which supports agricultural modernisation, rural employment and access to productive resources
• The FAO report on The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems (2025), which analyses structural barriers and opportunities for youth employment and engagement in agriculture
• The ILO Policy Guidelines on Promoting Decent Work in the Agri-Food Sector, emphasising working conditions, social protection, labour rights and employment quality
• The OECD report on Attracting New Farmers for the Future of Agriculture (2025), which underscores generational renewal as a structural policy challenge and stresses the need to lower entry barriers, improve access to land and finance, and strengthen rural living conditions

Together, these frameworks provide a basis for understanding how strategic and policy priorities are shaping the transformation of the agri-food sector across the Mediterranean.

Objectives

Beyond generating and sharing evidence-based analysis, the symposium seeks to stimulate debate on policies, strategies and practices that can enhance the attractiveness, sustainability and innovation of the agricultural sector. It aims to connect experts, practitioners, policymakers, and youth and women representatives from diverse disciplines, sectors and countries, fostering collaboration and exchange of experiences across the Mediterranean. It also seeks to motivate young people to explore opportunities in agriculture, encourage joint initiatives, and strengthen training and education programmes — raising awareness of how improving rural living conditions can support the long-term renewal and sustainability of the sector.

Programme Overview

The symposium is structured around five thematic round tables, each addressing a key dimension of agricultural renewal and attractiveness:

• Opening session — "The future of farming: Who will farm? And under what conditions?"
• Round Table 1 — "The economics of farming: profitability, land and access to resources"
• Round Table 2 — "Work in agriculture: labour dynamics, skills and working conditions"
• Round Table 3 — "Why choose farming? Rural living conditions and the choice to stay"
• Round Table 4 — "Farming differently: technology, cooperatives and new business models"
• Round Table 5 — "Enabling the next farmers: policies, partnerships and investment for agricultural renewal"

In addition to the main sessions, the symposium will include a poster session showcasing concrete case studies and successful initiatives.

The full programme will be published shortly (download here the draft agenda).