PepsiCo Foundation-backed initiative will support 900 young farmers across Europe with resilience, agritech and business training in 2026.
A new European farming initiative backed by the PepsiCo Foundation will support 900 young farmers across five countries in 2026 as the sector faces mounting concerns over ageing workforces and long-term food security.
Launched by EIT Food and the PepsiCo Foundation, the Future Harvest programme will operate in France, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland and Türkiye, providing training in regenerative agriculture, agritech, climate resilience and farm business management.
The initiative launches as Europe’s farming workforce continues to age rapidly. Only around 11 per cent of farm managers are under 40, according to European Commission, while rising costs, climate pressures and market volatility continue to squeeze small and medium-sized farms.
Europe’s farming future depends on whether the next generation sees agriculture as a place to build, innovate and lead.”
Richard Zaltman, CEO, EIT Food
EIT Food and local partners will deliver the programme through online learning, on-farm training, mentoring and peer-to-peer collaboration. Participants will gain practical skills in sustainable farming, entrepreneurship, leadership and digital innovation designed to strengthen long-term farm resilience and profitability.
The programme will also connect farmers with experts, innovation networks and hands-on support through the Future Harvest FarmHub, which will host farm clinics, field visits and knowledge-sharing sessions.
Monica Bauer, Senior Vice President, Global Social Impact, PepsiCo, and President, PepsiCo Foundation, said: “As a food and beverage company, PepsiCo’s connection to agriculture is fundamental. The ingredients in PepsiCo’s products start with farmers and farming families who are facing growing pressure, from rising costs to climate uncertainty. Through the PepsiCo Foundation, we aim to support initiatives like Future Harvest that are rooted in local realities and delivered with trusted partners, helping farming communities build resilience and opportunity over time.”
Building resilience in European farming
EIT Food said the programme would help address growing concerns around succession planning and the long-term resilience of Europe’s food system by supporting farmers already managing or transitioning family farms.
“Europe’s farming future depends on whether the next generation sees agriculture as a place to build, innovate and lead,” said Richard Zaltman, CEO of EIT Food.
“That is why we are teaming up with the PepsiCo Foundation: to give young farmers the skills, confidence and networks to regenerate the land, strengthen their businesses and shape a more resilient food system. Future Harvest is part of EIT Food’s wider commitment to building a more resilient agriculture sector across Europe.”
While Future Harvest follows a shared European framework, EIT Food and local partners will tailor delivery in each country to reflect national farming priorities and challenges.
The programme will run from June to December, with applications opening in 2026. EIT Food and programme partners will publish eligibility criteria and application timelines in the coming months.
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