Over the last decade, 110 thousand young businesses under 30 have closed their doors in all sectors, with the sole exception of agriculture which is the only one of the main sectors to have held on. This is what emerges from a Coldiretti analysis of Unioncamere data presented on the occasion of the awarding of the Green Oscars in Venice to the companies that stand out most for guaranteeing food and energy self-sufficiency and the sustainability of production. “In the period 2014-2024, Italian companies run by under 30s went from 514 thousand to 404 thousand, with a net loss of 21% – explains Coldiretti – these are the most significant drops recorded in construction (-40%) and trade (-34%), while agricultural ones remained just under 48 thousand units, without substantial changes. The sign of a resilience of young farmers which, however, is put to the test by too many obstacles that prevent or slow down entry and continuity in the sector. management of agricultural businesses: lack of access to credit, bureaucracy, lack of infrastructure and limited access to land are some examples”, according to a report by the Divulga Study Center. Conditions, on the other hand, which change from territory to territory. According to the analysis of Dulvga data, in Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Veneto and Friuli Venezia-Giulia the obstacles that prevent young people from entering agricultural activities may be linked to limited access to land. Other Italian regions are instead inclined towards generational turnover and have a higher percentage of young farmers than that of older farmers. In Basilicata, Sardinia and Campania the agricultural sector represents a great opportunity for relaunching for young people in territories with high rates of youth unemployment, while in Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Valle d’Aosta and the Autonomous Province of Trento and Bolzano the agricultural sector, being substantial part of the local economic framework, tends to involve the interests of young entrepreneurs. Overall, 65% of young farmers invest in family-run businesses and only 28% start and run completely new businesses. However, the fact remains that young Italian farmers represent excellence at a European level. According to the Divulga analysis of the latest Eurostat data, agricultural companies run by under 35s in Italy generate a standard production of 4,296 euros per hectare, approximately double all European media equal to 2,207 euros each, and well above France (2,248 euros each), Spain (1,828 euros each), and Germany (2,749 euros each).
