Impact of Immigration on European Agriculture

European agriculture relies heavily on migrant workers, with estimates indicating that around a third of the workforce consists of foreign labor. Despite rising anti-immigration sentiments across the continent, many farmers find it increasingly difficult to recruit local workers as younger generations are less inclined to pursue agricultural jobs. For instance, Italy faces a shortfall of approximately 200,000 agricultural workers annually, leading to the recruitment of labor primarily from Asia and Africa. This contradiction creates political tensions within right-leaning governments, as the agricultural sector's dependence on migrants clashes with rising anti-immigration rhetoric.