Over 200 stakeholders gathered at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra on February 5, 2026, for a landmark workshop exploring the impacts of the upcoming EU Common Agricultural Policy on Slovakia’s agriculture, climate resilience, and natural resources.
Bridging Research and Policy for Sustainable Agriculture
The expert workshop “New EU Agricultural Policy for 2028–2034 and Its Impacts on Slovakia” brought together a diverse coalition of farmers, policymakers, researchers, environmental organizations, and financial institutions to engage in evidence-based dialogue about the future of Slovak agriculture. Organized as part of the RETOUCH NEXUS project, the event created an open platform for stakeholders to examine the new CAP framework, discuss environmental support schemes, and address critical challenges related to climate change and natural resource management.
The timing could not be more crucial. As Slovakia prepares for the post-2027 policy period, agricultural stakeholders face significant decisions about income support mechanisms, environmental interventions, and climate adaptation strategies. The workshop provided stakeholders with the analytical tools and policy insights needed to navigate these changes effectively.
Inclusive Dialogue: Giving Voice to Youth
A notable strength of the workshop was its commitment to inclusive participation, particularly in ensuring that youth voices were prominently featured. The Association of Young Farmers delivered a dedicated presentation highlighting the priorities and specific needs of young farmers, ensuring that issues such as generational renewal, access to land, financing, and long-term farming viability were explicitly addressed in policy discussions.
This intergenerational approach reflects the workshop’s recognition that the decisions made today about the 2028–2034 CAP will shape the agricultural landscape for the next generation of farmers. By actively involving young farmers in the dialogue, the workshop ensured that policy discussions considered not only immediate concerns but also the long-term sustainability and appeal of farming as a profession for younger generations.
Key Insights and Outcomes
The workshop revealed strong stakeholder interest in the new CAP framework, particularly regarding environmental requirements and climate-related obligations. Participants engaged deeply with the RETOUCH NEXUS project’s deliverables, including policy briefs and modelling outputs that provide evidence-based insights into potential policy impacts.
While discussions highlighted diverging preferences between farmers and environmental organizations on intervention design, a critical consensus emerged: well-designed policies that include motivating, incentive-based components, rather than purely restrictive measures, can support both environmental objectives and farm resilience in the face of climate change.
The programme included moderated panel discussions and parallel thematic workshops on climate change, water management, education, and the feasibility of proposed measures for national policy plans. A survey on irrigation infrastructure initiated during the workshop was particularly welcomed, linking stakeholder input directly to concrete policy and investment recommendations for climate adaptation.
Extending the Impact Beyond the Workshop
To maximize transparency and knowledge sharing, all workshop presentations have been made publicly available online, with registered participants receiving direct access to these materials. Press releases published in national and sectoral newspapers are informing the broader public about key findings and policy implications.
The workshop’s conclusions will serve as a foundation for continued dialogue with stakeholders. Insights from the initial impact analyses of the new CAP and EU budget proposals will be further refined and communicated to decision-makers, supporting evidence-based policy development that reflects the diverse needs and priorities of Slovakia’s agricultural sector.
Looking Ahead
With representation from the Slovak Chamber of Agricultural and Food (SPPK), the Agrarian Chamber of Slovakia (AKS), the Association of Slovak Young Farmers (ASYF), ministries of Agriculture and Environment, financial institutions, agri-food companies, environmental NGOs, and leading research institutions including SUA in Nitra and National Agriculture and Food Center (NPPC), the workshop exemplified the collaborative approach needed to address complex agricultural and environmental challenges.
As Slovakia prepares for the 2028–2034 CAP period, this stakeholder engagement activity demonstrates the value of bringing diverse perspectives together in constructive dialogue. The path forward requires policies that are not only environmentally ambitious but also economically viable and socially inclusive, a balance that can only be achieved through continued partnership between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.
More photos of the event
