Is the agricultural sector doomed to extinction? The average age of farmers around the world is steadily increasing, approaching 60 in developed countries. This is precisely why this industry, which provides approximately a quarter of the world's jobs, has found itself in a difficult situation: unless it attracts a large number of young workers, it will face a sharp decline.
On the positive side, 16% of the world's population, or 1,2 billion people, are currently between the ages of 15 and 24. Many of them struggle to find work, especially in developing countries. For example, in Africa, people under 25 make up approximately 60% of the population, while approximately a third of Africans aged 15 to 35 are unemployed.
Yet young people in developing countries continue to flee rural areas. They seek better-paying, higher-status jobs in cities or in other countries. Because of these migration trends, the global population of young people working in agriculture and living in villages has been declining for several decades.
(...) In Europe, the number of young people in rural areas (aged 15-24) fell by 1,7 million between 2013 and 2019: in 2025, only 12% of farms on the continent were run by people under 40. In Southeast Asia, young people in rural areas made up only about 7% of the total population in 2020, down from 16% in 1950. In Japan, only 11% of farmers are under 50. And in Latin America, 1,2 million young people are projected to leave farming by 2030.
Attracting new generations to work in agriculture requires a paradigm shift in how we perceive the sector. It must be presented as the first choice for young people, not as a last resort - a frontier of economic development with attractive employment opportunities throughout the production chain. Agriculture is more than just growing food; it creates jobs in the food industry, as well as in transport, retail and other related sectors.
In addition to its impact on employment, a prosperous agricultural sector contributes to overall well-being. In low-income countries, growth in the agricultural sector reduces poverty two to three times more effectively than growth in other sectors, and increasing agricultural productivity is crucial for improving nutrition and food security.
However, the sector suffers from a perception problem. Young people tend to view agriculture as a dirty, low-tech, low-paid, low-status occupation. It is the antithesis of “modern work.” If the authorities are serious about attracting young people to agriculture, they need to emphasize its profitability, reach, and scale. And for these arguments to be convincing, measures will be needed to address the legitimate concerns that influence young people’s attitudes toward agriculture. These include reforming the land tenure system, mandating wage increases, and supporting entrepreneurship.
Too often, public policies focus on low-income agricultural activities that offer little financial stability or career advancement. Instead of encouraging them to raise crops or animals, young people should be steered toward the rapidly growing category of off-farm jobs, which is being fueled by urbanization, technological advances, and increased demand for locally produced food. These include food processing, packaging, storage, and distribution (e.g., to urban markets). In Ghana, for example, a leading smallholder cocoa cooperative, Kuapa Kokoo, is investing in domestic processing capacity to increase the incomes of producers and workers.
In the Mekong Delta (one of Asia’s most important agricultural regions, often called Vietnam’s “rice bowl”), few young people want to work in the fields. Young people see their future in agricultural services, extension services, research, and agribusiness. Agritech startups have already begun to transform value chains in Vietnam, helping smallholder farmers and cooperatives gain access to finance and export markets.
Digital solutions are key to ensuring the sustainability (including environmental sustainability) of small producers and to expanding the industry. In Croatia, specialized software for short supply chains helps automate shipping, receiving and accounting, allowing small farmers to focus on growing their crops. In Colombia, an accessible smartphone app helps citrus producers improve crop quality and access markets by connecting them with agronomists and buyers. In Africa, where processing and logistics already account for 40% of farm-to-market chains, there are many successful platforms that connect farmers with both equipment and buyers.
Continued expansion will create better-paying, skilled jobs for young people in rural and urban areas. This will send a strong message: agriculture is not just about tilling the land. However, governments must provide the younger generation with the resources and skills (digital and otherwise) to modernize agriculture and create sustainable, innovative agribusinesses. It is time to realize that we need to involve young people in agriculture and food systems - to create decent jobs and (more importantly) to feed the world.
The author is the Chief Economist for Food and Agriculture of the United Nations.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2025. (translation: NR)
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