The Liberal Democrats are proposing a ‘Farm First’ initiative to train graduates for careers in agriculture, addressing concerns about a potential “lost generation” within the farming sector.
The proposed scheme draws inspiration from Teach First, a charitable organization that trains graduates as teachers and places them in schools.
The Liberal Democrats estimate the program would require an annual investment of £60 million to fund two-year training placements for 1,000 participants. They suggest the initiative could be financed through revenue-generating measures, including a windfall tax on major banks and an increase in the Digital Services Tax levied on large technology companies.
A Labour spokesperson stated that the government is “committed to supporting the farming sector.”
“We’re investing billions in the sector through supportive programmes and schemes and working closely with the Institute for Agriculture to promote careers in farming.”
“The Lib Dems had the opportunity to help farmers while in government but instead cut capital spending to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by a third and led the country into austerity.”
Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat’s environment spokesperson, said his party was calling for “a fundamental cultural shift in our attitude towards farming”.
“Our Farm First scheme would treat food security with the seriousness it deserves, finally giving young people the training and incentive they need to choose farming,” he said.
“By ignoring this impending crisis and rural brain drain, they are severing the lifeline of our domestic food supply.”
Citing government statistics indicating that only 5% of UK farmers are under 35, the party emphasized the need for immediate action to encourage youth participation in the sector.
The data, released in September, revealed that 40% of farmers are over 65, while 15% are under 45.
In September, an agricultural university reported an 11% surge in applications for its farming courses, attributing it to what they termed the “Clarkson effect,” according to the BBC.
Will Marsh, director of external relations at the Royal Agriculture University, told the BBC that Jeremy Clarkson’s Amazon Prime show, which documents his experiences running Diddly Squat Farm, had contributed to the increase in applications.
“When you watch the programme, you can see how rewarding that career is, you can see how complicated it is and how far-reaching it is,” he said.
The Liberal Democrats are also advocating for enhanced education on nutrition and food production for children.
“Instilling an understanding of how food is produced from a young age, making better use of food grown locally and investing in agricultural training opportunities are key to future domestic food security and to tackling poverty,” the party says.
Earlier this year a senior executive at Marks & Spencer warned that the government’s planned changes to inheritance tax would put off young people from working on a farm.
“We want to see a vibrant, viable farming structure where young people can come in and make a good living and be proud of what they do,” he told the BBC.
“So being able to give greater surety, greater security is going to be key to viable farming structure going forward.”
The change – which has not yet come into force – would see tax charged on inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m.
Some Labour MPs have questioned the move, with around 30 believed to have abstained on an initial vote on the tax.
Markus Campbell-Savours, who represents the rural Cumbrian seat of Penrith and Solway, was suspended from the parliamentary party after voting against the plan.
The government has argued the move is a fair way to raise money for public services.
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