Young Farmers Can't Farm Green if They're in the Red
Macra has called on Government to ensure that young farmers are placed at the centre of Ireland’s sustainability and climate transition, following its participation in the National Economic Dialogue (NED) 2026.
Under the theme of “Reforming Now for a Secure Future: Putting Future Forty into Practice”, the National Economic Dialogue brought together representatives from across society to discuss priorities for Budget 2027 and Ireland’s long-term economic future. The event focused on key challenges including climate action, economic resilience, public spending and sustainability.
During the discussion, Macra highlighted the important role young farmers are already playing in environmental protection, climate action and biodiversity enhancement, while stressing that environmental ambition must be matched by economic reality.
Macra National President Josephine O'Neill said, “Our young, trained farmers are keenly aware of the environmental challenges facing them, but as custodians of the land for future generations, they are conscious of the role they play in climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation and environmental protection. They have the knowledge and skills to adopt new technologies and sustainable farming practices, but much of this
comes at a cost – these young farmers first of all need a viable income from their farming enterprise; however, their continued green transition must be financially incentivised and supported.”
Macra emphasised that the transition to greater energy independence must not come at the expense of food production or future farming opportunities. The organisation raised concerns regarding the growing pressure on agricultural land and reiterated the need to prioritise on-farm renewable energy generation, supported by practical and accessible investment measures.
"Access to land continues to be a significant and growing barrier to entry for our young farmers. While we acknowledge that we cannot make more land, we must ensure that productive land is not sacrificed for energy production, stealing future opportunities from young farmers and potentially denying them a future on the land. Energy sovereignty must not come at the cost of food production or young farmers”
The organisation called for greater focus on on-farm energy production, while drawing attention to key considerations. Among the issues highlighted by Macra were the need for adequate funding under TAMS, a review of reference costs to reflect inflation, increased support for solar investment on farms, and expanded access to low-cost finance and grant schemes. The organisation stressed that future schemes must be adequately funded, simplified and designed in a way that does not undermine farm productivity or viability.
Macra also warned that sustainability cannot be considered through an environmental lens alone.
“Environmental sustainability is just one leg of the sustainability stool – economic sustainability is a vital component. Our young farmers cannot focus on green measures if they are struggling to be economically viable; they cannot farm in a green way if they are consistently operating in the red”
A key focus of Macra’s contribution was generational renewal. The organisation highlighted that young, trained farmers are eager to adopt new technologies, environmental measures and sustainable farming practices, but continue to face significant barriers to entering and establishing themselves in agriculture.
“Paramount to any discussion regarding the agricultural sector’s green agenda is Generational Renewal. Our young farmers must be at the heart of all decisions as they will be the future of farming and food production. However, unless targeted measures, supports and incentives are actually put in place, Generational Renewal will continue to be just a buzzword, and our young farmers' futures will evaporate before our eyes.”
Macra welcomed the strong emphasis throughout the dialogue on engagement and consultation, noting that farmers must be active participants in the design of future agri-environmental policies and sustainability measures.
Representing the organisation, Macra National President Josephine O’Neill and Deputy CEO Derrie Dillon participated in the breakout session on “Decarbonisation, Energy, Agriculture and Sustainability: Transitioning to a Lower Carbon Economy”. The organisation expressed deep disappointment that agriculture was effectively sidelined within a broader discussion on decarbonisation and sustainability, rather than being recognised as a sector deserving dedicated consideration.
Macra said the decision failed to reflect the strategic importance of agriculture to Ireland's economy, food security and climate ambitions, and limited the opportunity for meaningful discussion on the supports young farmers urgently require ahead of Budget 2027.
“Our young farmers continue to experience wide-ranging challenges. These challenges and the actions required to overcome them, along with the supports required by young farmers as they begin their careers, deserved a dedicated conversation and breakout session. While we absolutely recognise and value the role that we play in environmental protection, our young farmers face many other significant challenges, each of which warranted deeper discussions on the day”.
Macra reaffirmed its commitment to engaging constructively with Government and policymakers and said it looks forward to continuing discussions on how Budget 2027 can support both the sustainability and viability of Irish agriculture for future generations.