The importance of environmental sustainability among young farmers in the Homokhátság (partial results from field research)

Two factors motivated my project. Firstly, Europe’s demographic situation is characterised by a stark shift in age composition. This includes the aging of the farming society, which is a serious problem throughout Europe, including Hungary. Secondly, the characteristics of the study area. Primary research focuses on the young farmers in the Homokhátság and issue of environmental sustainability. I pay special attention to the young farmers of the Sand Dunes area of the Danube-Tisza interfluve, because I assume that they have to deal with special problems that are particularly characteristic of this region. The main research objective was as follows: for the young farmers of Homokhátság, it is not the size of the farm that primarily determines environmental sustainability. I have shown that in the environmentally-sensitive Homokhátság aridification is not perceived to be the most important problem. Owners primarily identify labour shortage as the biggest risk that influences the future management of their farms. Typically, most farmers do not realise that their current way of farming is environmentally unsustainable.