Young Farmers:
Specialist advisory services to support young farmers and their business decisions.
Within the framework of the Sardinia Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014–2022, Sub-measure 2.1, Focus Area 2B “Young Farmers”, we supported 36 farm businesses with holders under the age of 41 through a specialist advisory programme aimed at improving economic and environmental management. Through meetings and on-farm visits, we analysed needs, compliance requirements and investment opportunities, integrating planning and monitoring tools to guide decision-making and support innovation across the participating farms.
Dedicated advisory services to monitor farm performance and plan business decisions and investments.
Context and needs.
Young farmers in Sardinia need to combine profitability and sustainability while addressing regulatory obligations, climate-related risks and investment decisions. Generational renewal requires management skills and tools capable of supporting the assessment of innovation and diversification opportunities. The project responds to these needs through tailored advisory services that integrate agronomic, economic and environmental expertise and explore the opportunities offered by the 2023–2027 programming period.
Objectives.
- Strengthen agronomic and technical-economic skills to guide decision-making and improve farm management.
- Support regulatory compliance and risk management, with particular attention to environmental and climate-related issues.
- Assess opportunities for modernisation, innovation and diversification through feasibility and cost-benefit analyses.
- Promote the use of planning tools and key indicators to monitor the economic and environmental performance of farm businesses.
Working approach.
The programme combined office-based meetings and on-farm visits between April and June, structuring the advisory activities into four operational stages:
- Collection of farm data and identification of needs and objectives.
- Analysis of compliance requirements and recommendations for reducing risks.
- Performance monitoring and assessment of organic farming practices and precision technologies.
- Review and management control activities to assess the costs, benefits and feasibility of investments.
Rurinnova's Role.
Rurinnova provided tailored specialist advisory services through office-based meetings and on-farm visits carried out between April and June 2024. The work brought together specialist agronomic, economic, management and technical expertise, while ensuring continuity through a dedicated lead adviser for each farm.
Results.
- 36 farm businesses with holders under the age of 41 were involved through a total of 864 hours of specialist advisory services, corresponding to 24 hours per farm.
- Farms strengthened their ability to monitor environmental performance, assess improvement measures and evaluate the financial feasibility of investments.
- The use of key indicators was consolidated to support business decisions and encourage a preventive approach to risk management, including climate-related risks.
Lessons learned and replicability.
- Advisory services are most effective when they combine on-farm visits, practical tools and a limited number of robust and easily understandable indicators.
- Young farmers’ openness to innovation needs to be supported by translating knowledge and techniques into practical management decisions.
- The integration of different areas of technical expertise makes the model replicable, while maintaining clear coordination and continuity through a dedicated adviser.
