Farm Incubators in Europe - Facilitating new entrants into farming

The main goal of the project was to help emerging initiatives in Germany, Spain, and Finland implement incubator structures to support new entrants into farming. By learning from the well-establis...

The main goal of the project was to help emerging initiatives in Germany, Spain, and Finland implement incubator structures to support new entrants into farming. By learning from the well-established incubator models in France and Belgium, we aimed to provide our partners with a framework to adapt these successful systems to their own national contexts. Through field trips and workshops, participants could gain first-hand experience of how incubators operate, interact with mentors and mentees, and understand the specific challenges and successes of the model. This knowledge would empower partners to develop pilot incubator projects, addressing the need for generational renewal in agriculture. We also wanted to facilitate exchanges between key stakeholders, such as local authorities and institutional landowners, to build support for these incubators in each partner country. By doing so, we sought to create a foundation for sustainable farm incubators across Europe, fostering rural development and innovative farming solutions​

We implemented five key activities during the project: Kick-Off Meeting in Brussels (October 2022): We introduced the project, clarified expectations, and set common goals. RENETA presented the French Espace Test Agricole model, and we visited two incubators in Brussels and the rural areas. Workshops addressed access to land, trainee expectations, and mentor roles. Field Trip to Berlin/Brandenburg and Conference in Berlin (May 2023): Alongside the UK’s Landworkers Alliance, we visited the TinyFarms model and Gut Bösel. A symposium on incubators was held at the Böll Foundation, attended by stakeholders, including the German Ministry for Food and Farming. Field Trip to Gaillac, France (October 2023): Over 40 participants, including ministry representatives, visited the Essor Maraicher incubator. Former trainees shared their experiences transitioning into established farms. Seminar in Helsinki, Finland (March 2024): We introduced farm incubators to Finland, featuring presentations from France, Spain, and Germany. Field Trip to the Basque Country, Spain (June 2024): We visited Aleko and Haztegia farm incubators and met with Basque institutions to discuss incubator models and best practices

The project produced several concrete outputs and results. We successfully demonstrated the diversity of the farm incubator model, both theoretically and practically, not only to our project partners but also to a wide range of stakeholders. This included integrating the Land Workers Alliance (LWA) from the UK into our informal EU Farm Incubator Network. We reached key target groups outlined in the project, which led to significant developments. In Finland, a working group on farm incubators was formed, closely tied to the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture. In Germany, a pilot incubator project will be launched in 2025, funded by the BMBF, with the Agronauten as a key partner. Additionally, the BMEL is developing its own pilot project, which resulted from direct communication with the Agronauten. Moreover, the project partners, together with LWA, have formed a working group to advance the farm incubator concept at the EU level. Although a follow-up Erasmus application for a European network was rejected, the topic will be featured at the Access to Land Network's annual meeting in November 2024, with plans to further expand the European exchange on farm incubators