The world urgently needs more young farmers, says this expert

The average age of the farmer is high - more than 55 years old.

That's according to the President of the World Farmers' Organisation, Arnold Puech Pays d'Alissac, who says that "a lot of people will be out of the job, I expect, retired, very soon, and of course it gives a new place for the youth".

Meanwhile, population increase is fuelling a rise in the demand for food.

The world's population is projected to continue growing for the next 50 to 60 years, peaking at approximately 10.3 billion by the mid-2080s, according to the United Nations.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) estimates that the world will need to close a 56% food gap by 2050. A 'food gap' refers to a shortfall in the food supply; it is the difference between the amount of food the world can produce and the amount required to meet future demand.

To meet this demand, farmworkers top the list of the largest growing job roles in the next five years and are expected to see 35 million more jobs by 2030, according to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025.

During this year's Annual Meeting in Davos, the Forum spoke with Arnold Puech Pays d'Alissac, President of the World Farmers' Organisation, to discuss the shifting landscape of food and farming.

With the changing demographics of agricultural workers and an increasing demand for their services, we asked d'Alissac how to ensure that we get more young farmers into the field.

"The farmers need, first, training."

One of the widely recognized key barriers to entry for young farmers is knowledge and skills gaps. For prospective workers without a farming background, they will need hands-on training and a mentor to build their confidence.

Support networks and agricultural scholarships can help provide young farmers with vital expertise as they break into the industry.

"Secondly, they need access to the land, either be an owner or have a long-term contract."

If they don't own the land or have a long-term contract, then they can't make long-term investments: "You can't invest in buildings, fences or fertilizer because you need several years to have the right return on your investment."

"Thirdly, access to affordable finance."

In some countries, you have access to finance at a rate of 2% per year, d'Allisac says, while in others it's 200%.

These higher rates are a barrier to entry for farmers with fewer financial resources: "If you are not born with a gold spoon or a silver spoon, as we say in France, you will not do that."

The Forum’s 100 Million Farmers initiative aims to harness the leadership of businesses, governments, farmers and NGOs to promote the transition to regenerative, climate-smart agriculture. The focus is on unlocking finance and elevating soil resilience – two critical areas that reinforce each other.

To close the finance gap, this initiative develops locally relevant innovative models for financing and collaboration to support farmers’ transition to resilient food systems.

Boosting soil resilience is also important. Healthy soils are crucial for 95% of global food production, providing essential nutrients, water and support for plant growth, while also reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, lowering costs and enhancing resilience to climate change.