Plans to reduce the funding dedicated to spending on agriculture dominated a meeting of EU politicians focused on food security, generational renewal and women in agriculture hosted by the Oireachtas at Dublin Castle on Monday.

Elected representatives from right across the EU voiced concern that the prospect of decreased funding levels for the 2028-2034 CAP could undermine the three policy areas to be addressed at the conference as strategies and targets risk becoming just aspiration in the absence of sufficient funding.

Dutch representative Caroline van Dr Plas – a key figure in the growth of her country’s farmers’ party over recent years – stated that the jeopardy facing future CAP funding in a tightening regulatory environment was one the factors undermining certainty for the next generation of farmers.

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“One of the major issues is the financial position of young farmers and income insecurity stemming from the many requirements imposed,” van der Plas said.

“Another important issue is uncertainty due to the volume of regulations, both at EU and national level, and the lack of predictability is also an important concern.

“The CAP is no longer a standalone policy and this has created significant, significant uncertainty for farms.”

Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice warned the conference that the loss of 5.6m farmers across the EU in just 17 years is a “sickness” for which no remedy has been given.

“If you’re a young farmer or a young person at the moment, you weigh up what will you go at to have a future,” Fitzmaurice commented. “At the moment, how can you have confidence when Europe is cutting your budget by 24%.”

Macra president Josephine O’Neill stated that strategies will not increase the number of young farmers in the EU if they are not funded to deliver “real, measurable results”.

“Today, we ask more and more from fewer and fewer people. That model cannot continue,” O’Neill told delegates.

“At European level, we need a strong, properly funded cap. A 20% cut to the cap budget sends the wrong message to the very generation we are asking to feed Europe.”