The lack of young people entering the farming sector has beeen highlighted in a study carried out by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

The study, which was co-funded by the EU, showed that only 11% of farmers in Europe are under the age of 40.

The report also stated that political debates on the topic of agriculture are currently "rampant" across Europe.

The EIT said while farmers are the "most trusted" part of the food system this sentiment is failing to inspire younger people to get in to farming - with 35% of European farmers now over the age of 65.

According to the institute, previous research also established that agricultural careers have a reputation as hard work, isolated, requiring low education, and offering poor financial opportunities.

Farming is also seen as a difficult career to break into due to a shortage of land and access to finance, according to the study.

Ireland's most recently available figures show that only 4.35% of farm holders are aged under 35, while 37% of farmers are over 65.

The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has also warned that Irish agriculture is "in crisis" and a generational renewal plan is urgently needed.

The government has appointed a commission to examine generational renewal in farming, and look into all factors that are affecting the demographics, such as legal, economic, and administrative.

The commission launched a public consultation on generational renewal late last year.

Agriland has learned that 31 responses were received, of which the commission subsequently met with 10.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) has said that a policy will be delivered to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon on the matter shortly.

Separately a new European Innovation Partnership Scheme project focused on share farming as an effective generational renewal option is set to be launched in the coming months.

The project - developed by the Land Mobility Service in conjunction with Teagasc, Succession Ireland, Macra, and Lakeland Dairies - has been allocated over €300,000.

It was among three new EIP projects on the theme of generational renewal to secure funding from the DAFM and the EU earlier this year.