Farmers of the future
HCC's role and expertise in the 'Farmers of the Future' Workshop
As a local facilitation and engagement partner for the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), Highclere Consulting co-organised and implemented the “Farmers of the Future” foresight workshop in Brașov, Romania (February 2020). The event was part of the broader JRC–DG AGRI foresight study exploring the possible professional and societal roles of European farmers by 2040.
Role
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Local Organisation and Stakeholder Mobilisation: HCC coordinated with JRC to identify and invite 15 farmers and agricultural stakeholders from diverse Romanian farming sectors (livestock, horticulture, mixed farms, smallholders, and young farmers). This ensured the representation of a broad spectrum of local realities and perspectives within the EU-wide study.
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Workshop Design and Facilitation: Building on JRC’s foresight and design methodology, HCC adapted the facilitation process to the Romanian context, creating an environment conducive to open reflection, creativity, and exchange. The sessions encouraged participants to explore fears, hopes, and expectations about the future of farming, and to formulate messages for the next generation of farmers.
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Documentation and Reporting: HCC supported data collection and synthesis, contributing local insights to the JRC’s final analysis and the Farmers of the Future report. The outcomes from Brașov complemented findings from other EU workshops (Germany, Latvia, Poland, Spain).
Expertise demonstrated
Participatory Foresight and Facilitation: HCC demonstrated strong expertise in facilitating multi-actor dialogue and translating abstract foresight concepts into accessible, experience-based discussions. HCC’s methods encouraged farmers to imagine alternative futures, articulate their needs, and connect them to long-term policy questions.
Rural Systems and Policy Insight: Leveraging its experience in European rural development and CAP-related initiatives, HCC contextualised European megatrends (such as digitalisation, climate adaptation, and generational renewal) within Romania’s agricultural landscape.
Communication and Reporting for Policy Impact: The Brașov workshop, facilitated by HCC, produced qualitative insights later integrated into JRC’s policy reflections on the future of farming and the diversity of farmer profiles expected by 2040.
Highclere Consulting collaborated with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) to co-design and deliver the Farmers of the Future workshop in Brașov, Romania. Acting as the local partner, HCC facilitated participatory foresight exercises with Romanian farmers to explore how their roles, challenges, and aspirations might evolve by 2040. Through its expertise in rural facilitation, participatory foresight, and EU policy translation, HCC ensured meaningful local engagement and contributed actionable insights that fed into the JRC’s European-wide foresight study on the future of agriculture.
