EUROPEAN CONFEDERATION OF AGRONOMISTS ASSOCIATIONS
Presentation Given February 23rd 2006, Armagh
Alberto Krohn

What is CEDIA?

We, for the moment, represent 11 countries:

• Belgium
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• France
• Greece
• Germany
• Ireland
• Italy
• Portugal
• Switzerland
• Sweden
  

What does CEDIA do?

• Annual Conference on an important theme, such as:
  • Environment
  • The CAP Reform
  • The World market
  • The use of GMO
  • Safe Food Production
  • Landscape Management and
  • The Bologna process.

• European Employment Network (that we are working on)
• Several “Green lunches” were organised in Brussels (eventually to do again)
• We publish a Newsletter (3 per year)
• We have an internet site: www.cedia.be
• One can order the Newsletter at the main page of our site, just by entering his or her email address.

Agronomists in the European Countries

There are very few figures on the professional situation of the Agronomist in most of the Countries.

But we managed to obtain the following:

Switzerland (2002)

• 2000 Agronomists, and
• 200 Food Engineers
• 1/3 is retired, 1/3 is under 65 and another 1/3 is under 45
• 76% were working in agro-education and extension services
• 50/50 Public /Private sectors

Denmark (2003)

• 3332 Agronomists (and related sciences)
• 47% working in Public Administration (local and/or regional levels)
• 53% Private or abroad
  • 26% Private companies
  • 25% Farmers advisers services
  • 2% Abroad

  

France (2005) (INA-PG)

• 18600 Agronomists
• 60% Private companies
• 40% Public sector

Private (France)

• 27% Industries
• 56% Services
• 11% Agriculture (or “Agro-organisations”)
• 6% Self-employment

Public (France)

• 46% Public Administration
• 34% Research
• 20% Teaching

Portugal (2005)

• We are around 3000 engineers
• Private sector: 47%
• Public sector: 53%

This is (or was) the situation in a few countries:

• Mainly Traditional jobs
  

Now, let’s talk about the future

Fact 1

• The END of the CAP as we knew it for severeal decades (to produce was the target...... no matter at what cost!)
• Meaning the end of certain way of thinking the agricultural economy (read ”produce”) (who can forget the ”mountains” of meat, butter or cereals and the ”rivers” of milk?)

Fact 2

• At that time, a ”good” technician was the one that provided the ”good way to get more subsidies” and increased the production.
• (One must not forget that at that time the agricultural prices were too high, leading the consumption prices to even higher level, and a complete “miss link” to the World market!)

Fact 3

• So, we can say that production in itself is not anymore the goal….
• In my point of view the new goals are (not necessarily in this order) :
  • Welfare of people
  • Protection of the environment (we must give to the next generation a world in the same or better condition!...)
  • Sustainability of production,
  • Others.

Fact 4

• This means that the traditional jobs (those we knew and probably took for granted!) are also over!
• So, we must come up with solutions for, not only the youngsters (ending college now) but also for ourselves!

Which jobs will be available?

• Management positions:
  • In advisory services
  • Public sector
  • Private sector
• Research
• Biotechnology
• Communication
• International jobs

Requested skills in future

• Ability to analyze and solve problems at a scientific level
• Flexibility in job market (the wider the better)
• Ability to cooperate with persons holding other master educations
• Ability to communicate (comunicate is today as important as to know...)
• And, last but not least, INNOVATION

Conclusion

The main issues are:
To be able:

• to INNOVATE
• to have the skills to do almost everything

Life Long Learning is part of the solution

Thank you very much to all for your patience and attention.

And, to our colleagues and friends from Northern Ireland, I hope that this presentation will bring you to think about joining CEDIA…

Thanks again

Alberto Krohn