Por María Izquierdo 
Today, the Director General of Rural Development has presented, within the framework of a meeting promoted by REDPAC, the set of initiatives being carried out in Castilla y León that place the Community at the forefront nationally.
June 25, 2025
Castilla y León | Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development
This morning, the Director General of Rural Development of the Junta, Jorge Izquierdo, shared the package of measures implemented by the Government of Castilla y León to promote generational turnover at a meeting organized by REDPAC, which was attended by both the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food and the autonomous communities.
This forum, established as a meeting point to enhance interterritorial cooperation, has served to confirm that the set of initiatives being carried out in Castilla y León position this Community at the forefront nationally in terms of facilitating the incorporation of young farmers and breeders, as well as in the modernization of the sector.
Among the most prominent actions, Izquierdo referred to the succession of farming interventions, in which Castilla y León has been a pioneer in Spain and has achieved, to date, the incorporation of 180 young people and the mobilization of over 12,000 hectares. This initiative compensates the retiring farmer for transferring their farm and knowledge to the new owner, helping to rejuvenate the countryside and ensure the continuity of viable farms.
Additionally, the Community has led the implementation of the financial instrument for generational turnover, accounting for 95% of operations from the previous period and a mobilization of 300 million euros, of which 20% has benefited young people. This instrument remains active within the framework of the current PEPAC period.
The Director General also explained the strong commitment to digitalization and technical training through the Digital Agricultural Extension Program and the Technological Boost Strategy for Agricultural Training, reaching over 700 students in Integrated Vocational Training Centers, 10,000 students in specific courses, and nearly 1,000 young people entering the sector annually.
Furthermore, Castilla y León has actively collaborated with some of the programs and proposals established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, which have been implemented in cooperation with the communities in this area. In this regard, the management of PEPAC funds stands out, where over 1,500 requests for young people’s incorporation have been resolved, and almost 3,000 farms have been modernized.
As pointed out by Jorge Izquierdo, despite challenges such as the aging of the sector or difficulties in accessing land and financing, the future is optimistic if opportunities for innovation, financial support, and training are seized. Castilla y León, with its comprehensive and collaborative approach, can be considered a national benchmark in supporting generational turnover, a key pillar for the future of the rural environment and the Spanish agri-food sector.