Farming 'threatened by skill and labour shortages'

An agricultural university in Shropshire is calling for urgent action from the government and education sector to address what it said was an ongoing threat of skills and labour shortages in the industry.

A report has been commissioned by dairy cooperative Arla Foods in collaboration with Harper Adams University's school of sustainable food and farming.

It found 4% of young people were employed in food and farming but about 38% would be open to a career in the sector.

It said they were being held back by a lack of knowledge about a career in the field, saw other careers as more appealing or were unaware of the best routes into the sector.

To remedy this, the report said a national campaign should be launched to showcase the diversity and rewards of careers in agriculture, and clear routes into the sector should be created.

Employers should be supported to recruit, train and develop the workforce of the future, it said, adding that agricultural education should be strengthened and young people should have early exposure to agriculture - including food and farming in the curriculum.

"The value of this research is that it moves us beyond assumptions and gives us clear insight into where the opportunities lie," said Dr Fiona Williams from the university.

"The findings point to practical ways the sector can work together to improve access, understanding and progression into agricultural careers."

Alex Hardie, business development manager at the the school of sustainable food and farming, added: "While the industry grapples with ongoing recruitment and retention challenges, we were encouraged to learn nearly half of young people we asked were telling us something important: they're not turning their backs on farming - they simply want clearer pathways in to farming.

"If we improve awareness and access, agriculture has a real opportunity to inspire the next generation to work in an already thriving industry."

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