EU beefs up agri-educational links with China

China/Abril de 2017/Autora: Sarah Collins/Fuente: Independent

Resumen: La UE está reforzando sus vínculos agrícolas con China a través de un programa temporal de intercambio tipo Erasmus para jóvenes agricultores. Financiado conjuntamente por la UE y China, el programa de 18 meses busca promover modos de agricultura más respetuosos con el medio ambiente, en particular mediante el uso de nuevas tecnologías. Por el lado de la UE, el programa será financiado por un fondo dedicado a promover los «intereses estratégicos» del bloque. Corkman Alan Jagoe, productor de leche y cereales y director del CEJA, dijo que los mismos desafíos – acceso a la tierra, crédito, asesoramiento y educación – existen para los agricultores de todo el mundo. «No estamos en competencia, pero somos socios en nuestro campo», dijo Jagoe en la firma del nuevo programa de intercambio UE-China. «Esta cooperación entre jóvenes agricultores chinos y europeos nos dará una mejor comprensión de nuestro futuro». También dijo que el movimiento podría ayudar a aumentar la conciencia de la necesidad de una renovación generacional en el campo. Más de la mitad de los administradores agrícolas de la UE tienen 55 años o más, con un promedio de sólo 6 puntos por debajo de los 35 años. «Tenemos que preguntarnos quiénes serán las personas que alimentarán al mundo en 20 años» Dijo Jagoe.

The EU is beefing up its agricultural links with China through a temporary Erasmus-like exchange programme for young farmers.

Funded jointly by the EU and China, the 18-month programme seeks to promote more climate-friendly ways of farming, particularly through the use of new technology.

On the EU side, the programme will be paid for by a fund dedicated to advancing the bloc’s «strategic interests».

Corkman Alan Jagoe, a dairy and cereal farmer and head of the European young farmers’ council (CEJA), said the same challenges – access to land, credit, advice and education – exist for farmers the world over.

«We are not in competition but are partners in our field,» Mr Jagoe said at the signing of the new EU-China exchange programme. «This cooperation between Chinese and European young farmers will give us all a better understanding of our future.»

He also said the move could help to raise awareness of the need for generational renewal in the countryside. More than half of all farm managers in the EU are aged 55 or above, with an average of only 6pc under 35. «We need to ask ourselves, who will be those people that are feeding the world in 20 years’ time,» Mr Jagoe said.

The news comes the same week agriculture minister Michael Creed signed a deal to open up the Chinese market to Irish beef, fish and horse exports.

Irish agri-food exports to China have tripled in the last four years, from around € 240m in 2012 to €780m in 2016, according to the Department for Agriculture.

It makes China Ireland’s third-largest export market for agri-food products, in value terms, after the UK and US.

Dairy products make up the bulk of Ireland’s export trade with China, which is now Ireland’s second-biggest export destination for dairy after the UK.

The EU has no free-trade deal with China in place, but is currently negotiating a bilateral investment agreement.

The EU and China signed a «cooperation plan» on agriculture and rural development in 2012.

Fuente: http://www.independent.ie/business/farming/eu/eu-beefs-up-agrieducational-links-with-china-35655916.html