Can demographic renewal propel transitions?

How can we simultaneously respond to the challenges of the demographic transition and the agroecological transition?

First off, tackling these two challenges requires focusing on the organisation of labour, capital, and land, and the ways in which all three are connected and accessed.
In the 1950s, when small farms began transforming into larger operations, it was because these three factors were brought together. At that time, production, tradesmanship, financial capital, and land capital coexisted within a model that was centred on the conjugal family. At present, we lack the sort of business structure that can drive both generational renewal and the advancement of the agroecological transition.

Who are the people who will bring about these transitions?

We must explore the type of organisational structure that could handle this dual task. Are family farms, organised around a single farmer, in a position to respond? Which individuals are most likely to move these transitions forward? Depending on the region and the farm, the type of person most likely to launch a farm’s agroecological shift might be someone who has a second profession, someone who is a farmer and a salaried worker. It is more a question of skills than status, because the farmer of the future will need to be capable of putting knowledge and resources to work in a specific field; mastering methods and tools to implement new forms of streamlining; working alone or as part of a team; and keeping abreast of the rules and regulations applicable to their area of activity and organisational model. Perhaps the situation would also require sharing responsibility for these tasks with several collaborators?

More generally, what are the issues to keep an eye on?

At present, the agricultural world is characterised by an ever dwindling population of farmers who are reliant on family-based labour, a fragmented organisational structure, dramatic economic and ecological uncertainty, and shorter-term objectives, since farming is less likely to be viewed as a lifelong endeavor. Yet, we are asking farmers working with different systems to undertake the transition together, all at the same time and following the same trajectory. Does this approach make sense? Should we have the same expectations for very small versus very large farms? Should we employ different tools? If so, how? How should we gauge progress?
Tackling these challenges requires that farms become interactive and interoperative, given the importance of collaboration among farmers. Mandates will need to make sense to farmers, from both an agricultural and humanitarian perspective. Industrial and regional stakeholders, including manufacturers and consumers, will also have an important part to play. They must ensure their commitment to this transition. Finally, the agroecological transition must generate value and future opportunities for those whose livelihoods depend upon it.