Tesco has teamed up with Harper Adams University’s School of Sustainable Food and Farming (SSFF) to give 75 young farmers a chance to develop their skills in sustainable agriculture.
The Future Farmer Programme will consist of face-to-face and live online training on how to implement sustainable agriculture practices and protect biodiversity.
The nine-month course, which will run each year for the next three years, will also include events and mentoring sessions on business operations and personal development.
It will be split into three focus areas: Understanding Sustainability, which will explore the key drivers and opportunities for the industry; Agile Mindsets, which will help participants identify their own strengths, capabilities and weaknesses; and Agile Business, will help participants structure and adapt their business, existing or new, and to identify new opportunities and methods for a sustainable future.
“The transition to more sustainable food production systems is a significant change for many farmers, and so understanding these issues, identifying the opportunities they present, and being prepared to make change is the key focus of the course,” Simon Thelwell, director of the SSFF at Harper Adams University commented.
Farmers under the age of 40 from across different agricultural sectors and at different stages of their development will be encouraged to apply for the programme, via Harper Adams University, ahead of its start date in October.
Training costs are fully funded, however delegates will need to cover the costs of traveling to and from events.
Speaking at the launch of the programme at the Royal Welsh Show, Ashwin Prasad, Tesco’s chief product officer said:
“British agriculture plays a crucial role in protecting and enhancing our natural environment and will be right at the heart of the UK’s efforts to achieve its net zero ambitions.
“It’s also had to overcome some incredibly tough challenges over the past two years, which is why we’re committed to supporting it, both now and in the future.”
“With this in mind, I’m delighted to be launching this new programme with Harper Adams University, which will see some of the brightest young talents in the industry benefit from training and support in implementing sustainable agriculture techniques, helping to safeguard the industry, and our natural environment, for future generations.”
As part of the Partnership with SSFF, Tesco is also funding research projects aimed at addressing some of the key sustainability challenges affecting agriculture.
