RECAP EU

What does modern farming REALLY look like?

Students from LMC Poperinge went behind the scenes at Belhop, a hop farm in Belgium, to discover how agriculture is evolving through sustainability and innovation 🚜

From climbing hop fields reaching 7 meters high to learning about climate change, machinery sharing and eco-friendly farming practices, students experienced the reality of modern agriculture firsthand.

🍇They also discovered how farmers are adapting by diversifying production with grapes, potatoes, wheat and more.

A huge thank you to Belhop for welcoming the students and sharing their passion for farming and innovation

Students discover sustainable farming in Crete !

Watch the video and get transported to Orgon Farm, a certified organic farm in Crete, where students learned more about agriculture and the role of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.

During the visit, students explored the farm’s greenhouses and took part in hands-on activities such as seed planting, composting and caring for young plants 🌿

The experience had a strong impact on students’ perceptions of agriculture and sustainability, with many reporting a greater appreciation for farming and an increased interest in the agricultural sector.

A big thank you to Orgon Farm and everyone involved in making this educational experience possible !

Beauffaux Farm: Generational farming in practice

Students from ITCFCA Libramont visited Beauffaux Farm, a family-run farm in Belgium where generational succession is a central focus. Students gained a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be a farmer and were able to reflect on the daily realities, responsibilities, and value of agricultural work.

Students took part in hands-on workshops, including bread-making, rediscovering the artisanal value behind flour production. They also toured the farm, getting close to the animals, feeding them in a healthy environment, and learning about the measures in place to ensure animal welfare.

This experience helped students better understand the human and sustainable dimensions of family farming, as well as the challenges of farm succession and maintaining viable agricultural activity for future generations.

📸 Watch the video to see highlights from the students’ visit and how CAP priorities are reflected in real farming practices in Belgium.

Listen to our conversation with Sheila Darmos, co-founder of Southern Lights and the Regenerative Farming Greece initiative 🌱

💡 Her mission is clear: farming should not only produce food, but regenerate ecosystems, communities and rural economies.

In this episode, we explore:
• What regenerative agriculture really means in practice
• Why soil health, biodiversity and communities are deeply interconnected
• Why many regenerative approaches are still not fully recognised in policy

🎧 Want to dive deeper?

Listen to our Reimagine Agriculture podcast :

YouTube : https://youtu.be/B3xYRyf0FMA

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69ycYhZwpUfCKGubcdl8Dn?si=34a18b3a2235423f

Today we spoke with Jens Bartnes, Co-President of Generation Climate Europe (GCE) 🌍 the largest coalition of youth-led climate organisations in Europe.

From growing up on a 9th-generation family farm in Norway to leading youth climate advocacy at EU level, Jens brings a unique perspective on food, nature and policy.

💡 One key message: young people are still heavily underrepresented in politics
➡️ 30% of Europeans are under 30
➡️ but only 3% of national parliamentarians
➡️ and just 0.4% of MEPs

Yet change is already happening 🌱
More and more young voices are stepping into the conversation and shaping the future of Europe’s food and climate policies.

🎧 Want to dive deeper?

Listen to our Reimagine Agriculture on YouTube : https://youtu.be/A3Y4hT3kO4g

Or on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5XPyyJcrFGypqYd0GTioQB?si=9c8fe40224a046f2

🌱 Rural Europe is stronger when we stand together!

Rural communities are the backbone of Europe’s food systems and landscapes—but they also face real challenges, from isolation to the need to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

💡 That’s where rural solidarity comes in. But what does it really mean?
It’s about collaboration and mutual support between farmers, local communities, and organisations working together to build stronger, more resilient rural areas.

Through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and especially its Rural Development pillar, this solidarity is put into action by:

➡ Supporting cooperation projects such as LEADER
➡ Providing targeted support to farmers and rural communities
➡ Promoting innovation, sustainability, and knowledge-sharing across regions

🌾 Behind the fields: Farmers’ mental health in rural Europe

Farmers are at the heart of our food systems, but behind the fields many are facing growing pressures. Financial uncertainty, climate change, and heavy workloads are all taking a toll on mental well-being.

💡 The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) goes beyond income support:

✔️ Strengthens rural communities
✔️ Supports training & advisory services, including mental health awareness
✔️ Encourages cooperation through farmer networks

🌍 Because supporting farmers means supporting more than production, it means supporting people, communities, and the future of agriculture.

A fair value for farmers in Europe!

Farmers are the backbone of Europe’s food system, but many don’t get a fair share of the profits, as much of the added value goes to processing.

The CAP 2023–2027 is changing that:
✅ Strengthening farmers bargaining power through cooperatives and producer groups.

✅ Supporting investments in processing and value-added activities to boost income and resilience.
✅ Providing education and advisory services to improve market knowledge and negotiation skills.

The goal? A fair and balanced agri-food system where farmers receive the value they deserve, while keeping European agriculture innovative, competitive, and sustainable.

🔗 Learn more about how the CAP is creating a fairer food supply chain: https://re-imagine.eu/recap-news/equitable-value-distribution-in-the-food-supply-chain-through-the-cap

Did you know that 80% of EU farm subsidies go to just 20% of farms mostly the largest ones?

The 2023–2027 CAP is working to change this by making funding fairer and more targeted.

✅ Supporting young farmers with at least 3% of direct payments
✅ Strengthening small & medium farms with at least 10% of direct payments
✅ Focusing on active farmers who keep rural areas alive

The CAP isn’t just about numbers it’s about fairness and supporting the next generation of farmers.

🔗 Click to explore how the CAP aims to make EU farm funding fairer for smaller and younger farmers: https://re-imagine.eu/recap-news/towards-a-fairer-approach-to-eu-farm-funding

Exploring Sébastien Geens’ Farm: Diversification Without Losing Focus

Students from the 5th ITCFCA Libramont visited Sébastien’s farm, a family-run farm in La Bruyère in Belgium where diversification has become a real strength.

During the visit, students discovered how diversified agricultural production helps the farm remain resilient in the face of climate and market uncertainties. They explored different livestock systems, including Hungarian pigs and Wagyu beef, gaining insight into how quality and consistency are maintained throughout the production process.

A key feature of the farm is its butcher cooperative, which strengthens ties within the local community by connecting producers and consumers and reinforcing a more local and sustainable food system.

The visit highlighted how diversified and community-oriented farming can support rural development while delivering high-quality products.

📸 Watch the video to see highlights from the students’ visit and how CAP priorities are reflected in real farming practices in Belgium.