Despite an aging farming population, agriculture has a lot to offer to young people as a career choice. The Committee recognizes there are many challenges: the high capital requirements and low returns have made entry into agriculture more difficult and less attractive to young people. Because of agriculture’s image in society, most young people who want to farm feel they do not receive a lot of support from their peers, parents or educators. But as Canadians talk increasingly about food sovereignty, local food production, or potential food crises, they must realize that our country needs new entrants in the agricultural sector to produce food in Canada.

Most of the Committee’s recommendations deal with programs and solutions to alleviate some of the barriers to entry into agriculture such as high costs, succession planning, and education. The Committee recognizes that profitability levels are the main reason why someone will or will not invest in agriculture. Therefore, other recommendations are intended to help improve agriculture’s profitability at the level of the individual farm. The extent and duration of the study did not allow the Committee to address all issues and solutions to make agriculture financially more attractive, but the Committee’s report Competitiveness of Canadian Agriculture tabled during the course of this study on young farmers, complements this study.