Severe shortage of skilled farm workers is threat to food security

A major report published this week by Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the UK’s environmental and land-based Industries, found 31 per cent of job vacancies in agriculture are hard to fill because of skills shortages.

Richard Longthorp, pig farmer and chairman of the Lantra Agri Skills Forum, said: “The simple facts of the matter are that farmers and their employees are getting older and we are not finding skilled replacements.

“We need to attract 60,000 new entrants into agriculture alone over the next decade just to stand still.”

Lantra’s research confirmed the vital importance of the environmental and land-based sector – it accounts for one in ten businesses across the UK.

But if farmers are to deliver the high level of productivity required to feed the nation in future years, they must be given the human resources necessary, it said.

Peter Martin, Lantra chief executive, told cross-MPs this week that the skills gap must be recognised as a strategic priority in Westminster.

He said: “We simply cannot afford to get this wrong and must equip our farmers and growers with the right kind of specialist, cost-effective skills support they need.

“There are thousands of businesses out there prepared to play their part but their vital role in feeding the nation has to be recognised and supported at the highest level.”

Hilary Benn, Environment Secretary, welcomed Lantra’s study and agreed workers needed more help to enter the agricultural jobs market.

“We need to support them and one way is by ensuring they have the skills they need for sustainable, productive farming,” he said.  

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