Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has welcomed the inclusion of an Irish representative on the new EU Expert Group on Farmland (EGoF).

Daniel Long, a founder of the Irish Observatory Stakeholder Group, has been included among the members of the EGoF.

The European Commission announced in March that it would set up a new expert group to provide policy advice on access to farmland.

The EGoF is being set up to provide advice and expertise to the commission when preparing policy initiatives in the field of access to land and farmland regulations.

According to the commission, the group will also serve as a platform for cross-sector dialogue so that member states, land agencies and key stakeholders can collaborate and exchange knowledge on best practices, regulatory challenges, and innovative solutions.

This expert group is being seen as a precursor to the EU Observatory on Farmland, which was one of the recommendations in last year's Vision for Agriculture and Food in the EU.

Commenting on the appointment of Long, Ní Mhurchú said: "An EU Observatory is badly needed, so that member states can make informed decisions on farmland markets, but in the meantime the expert group...will give us a fuller picture of ownership and use, and I’m delighted Mr. Long will be a strong representative for the Irish case.

According to the MEP, "excessive" consolidation of farmland "could be detrimental to ecological diversity and the sustainability of family farms and rural communities".

Ní Mhurchú said she had supported Long in his application to the group, and had written to European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen to "make the case for Ireland's strong representation in order to capture the unique and emerging challenges to land access in Ireland".

She added that she had also told Commissioner Hansen that drawing on the expertise of the Land Observatory Stakeholder Group would provide the commission with "direct access to and an established, knowledgeable and engaged network that is already aligned with ongoing EU-level discussions".

Commenting on his appointment to the EGoF, Long said: "I’m honoured to have been appointed. Coming from a family farm, I’ve seen first-hand the real pressures facing rural communities. Issues like generational renewal, land consolidation, and access to land are critical to the future of European agriculture.

"We must ensure that farmland remains accessible to a diverse range of farmers, while also addressing the growing concentration of land in large-scale operations," he added.

"Creating fair pathways for young farmers and sustaining the family farm model will be essential to securing Europe’s long-term food production and rural vitality," Long said.

Speaking about the work of the EGoF, Ní Mhurchú said: "With the formation of the group, and hopefully in the near future, the [EU Observatory on Farmland], we will finally start looking at the full picture of land use and accessibility so that we can better support our farmers as they face many challenges, including rising costs, environmental requirements and generational renewal."

According to the MEP, the first meeting of the EGoF is set to take place on May 28.