Benelux, Climate, Durability, Economy

Benelux countries join forces for future-proof agriculture

17 Oct. 2025

At the Benelux House, agricultural experts, policymakers, young farmers, and researchers from the three Benelux countries gathered for a seminar under the Luxembourg Presidency, focused on the future of agriculture. Under the motto “Empowering Agriculture for the Future”, it became clear that today’s challenges require cross-border cooperation.

The seminar was opened by Frans Weekers, Secretary-General of the Benelux Union, who emphasized the importance of collaboration as a lever for resilient agriculture in the region. Esther de Lange, Chief of Cabinet to European Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen, delivered the keynote speech.

Agriculture at a crossroads

The agricultural sector is under pressure. Climate change, demographic shifts, geopolitical tensions, and new European regulations are creating uncertainty. National solutions are no longer sufficient; regional cooperation within the Benelux offers opportunities to pool knowledge and develop innovative responses.

A central question during the seminar was: What can Benelux cooperation offer stakeholders beyond existing EU policies? Participants explored areas where the Benelux could take the lead, such as accelerating knowledge exchange, strengthening the position of young farmers, and developing cross-border pilot projects.

Three key themes

Under the Luxembourg Presidency of the Benelux Union, the seminar focused on three current themes:

• Innovation and resilience: Experts from institutions such as Wageningen University and the European Commission stressed that technology and knowledge sharing are crucial to making farmers more resilient to crises. Cross-border cooperation remains key.
• Access to land and financing: The European Investment Bank and financial partners such as Rabobank and Boerenbond discussed solutions to improve young farmers’ access to land and capital.
• Generational renewal: Youth organizations representing farmers from the three countries advocated for greater involvement, better support, and a more attractive image of the farming profession.

Looking ahead to 2026

The seminar concluded with remarks from Michel-Étienne Tilemans, Deputy Secretary-General of the Benelux Union, who highlighted the need to translate insights into concrete actions. With the upcoming Dutch Presidency of the Benelux Union in 2026, the ambition is to deepen this cooperation—particularly around food security—and to work together on a future-proof agricultural agenda, in which the Benelux plays a complementary role to European policy.