Young European Farmers Challenge Big Agriculture on Climate Change

In a recent interview with Euronews Green, Jean Matthieu Thévenot, a 30-year-old farmer and climate representative for European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC), highlighted the significant challenges that young farmers in Europe face due to big agriculture and climate change. Thévenot contends that the real issue lies with the agro-industry, which manipulates public perception to pit farmers against ecologists, obscuring the fact that both groups desire high ecological standards.
European farmers recently protested not against green policies but for fair revenue, as their incomes are substantially lower than the average citizen’s. Thévenot argues that agribusiness lobbyists distort these demands to push for less environmental regulation, which he believes is not the solution. Instead, he advocates for banning imports that do not meet Europe’s standards and setting minimum prices to level the playing field.
Thévenot criticizes supermarkets for their role in climate change and their disregard for farmers, suggesting that regulated pricing and intervention pricing from governments could force supermarkets to treat local and imported goods equally. He also supports the idea of social food security, where food prices are adjusted based on customers’ incomes, to make the system fairer for both farmers and consumers.
ECVC campaigns against greenwashing and ineffective carbon offset schemes while advocating for sustainable farming practices like organic farming, crop rotation, and reduced reliance on pesticides. Thévenot underscores the need for policies that protect small-scale farmers and ensure a just transition to renewable energy and sustainable agriculture.