A new report released today (Thursday, January 29) is calling for urgent action from the agricultural and horticultural industry, government and the education sector to address the ongoing threat of skills and labour shortages in the food and farming industry.
According to Arla Foods, who commissioned the report in collaboration with the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University: “The report makes clear that, in the face of growing threats to British food security, securing a skilled workforce will be crucial to a productive and resilient food system”.
The report found that amongst the biggest barriers to entry to a career in farming are the perceptions and knowledge of young people, their parents, and careers advisers at all levels.
The findings show that only 4% of young people in the UK are currently employed in food and farming, but that around two-fifths (38%) would be open to a career in the sector.
“Bringing them in is crucial, but they are being held back because they do not know enough about it, see other careers as more appealing, or are unaware of the best routes into the sector,” Arla Foods said.
Agriculture and horticulture face an awareness problem, an attractiveness challenge, and an access barrier, according to the findings.
In addition, young people associate farming with a sense of purpose and connection to nature, but also with hard labour, long hours, and low pay, the report showed.
“The importance of a reliable access to food in a world of geopolitical pressures, environmental changes and societal transformation cannot be overlooked,” Arla Foods said.
The report calls for an effort across industry, schools, colleges and universities, and government, with the followin three recommendations:
- Launch a national campaign to showcase the diversity and rewards of careers in agriculture;
- Strengthen agricultural education and early exposure for young people, embedding food and farming into the curriculum;
- Create clear routes into the sector, supporting employers to recruit, train, and develop the workforce of the future.
Bas Padberg, managing director at Arla Foods, said: “We have the opportunity to ensure our food supply chain continues to be resilient, providing essential nutrition for our society.
“If we don’t succeed in bringing in more people and addressing current shortages, there are obvious threats to the UK’s food security, as well as to the affordability and accessibility of food.”
Alex Hardie, business development manager at the School of Sustainable Food and Farming said: “While the industry grapples with ongoing recruitment and retention challenges, we were encouraged to learn nearly half of young people we asked (42%) 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.”
Finding qualified labour
The report also highlighted a survey of Arla’s 1,900 UK farmer owners from summer 2025, which revealed that finding people with the right skills and experience to work on farms continues to be a chronic issue.
Around five in every six respondents who had tried to fill a vacancy said that they had very few qualified applicants, or no applicants at all, the survey found.
Filling vacancies has been difficult for some time, but it has got progressively worse over the years since Arla’s research started.
An Arla farmer, David Christensen had this comment: “This report shines a light on one of the most important difficulties facing UK agriculture: how hard it is to secure the people who will shape its future.
“If we want a resilient, competitive and sustainable agri-food sector – if we want abundant, affordable and tasty food to be delivered reliably to our supermarket shelves – we must invest now in the people who will produce it.”
Arla’s farm owners say they are committed to support the next generation. In 2025, they reported making over 120 visits to schools.
To help farmers provide even more engaging, inspiring and educational visits, Arla aims to provide a new range of materials for school visits, showcasing what roles and jobs are part of daily farm life, as well as helping children understand where food comes from.
