Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs, MP, has unveiled a major new food security plan, which
includes a proposal to launch a 'farm first' scheme - a parallel
to Teach First - designed to attract young people to the
sector.
Official Government statistics have shown that only 1 in 20 (5%)
of farmers are aged under 35 across the UK. The party warns that
the country is facing a “lost generation of farmers” if the
Government does not take urgent action to encourage young people
into the profession.
The party is also calling for more action to improve education
about nutrition and food production to support the next
generation and tackle food poverty. Across the country, 1 in 5
(18%) children are living in food poverty, with a total of 1 in
10 (11%) households existing in food poverty. The party insists
that 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 Liberal Democrats are urging the Government to fundamentally
change its political approach to farming and recognise it as a
vital "lifeline" for the nation's food security. An absolute top
priority for the Government, the report says, must be encouraging
young people into the sector through dedicated education and
training programmes.
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs, MP, said:
“It is utterly shameful that one in five children are living in
food poverty, and our farming communities are being pushed to the
brink of extinction.
“Liberal Democrats are 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.
“By ignoring this impending crisis and rural brain drain, they
are severing the lifeline of our domestic food supply. Britain is
not secure unless its food supply is secure.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
The full paper will be launched on Thursday, 4 December.
Official Government agricultural workforce statistics can be
found here.
House of Commons library research on agricultural and business
property reliefs for inheritance tax can be found here.
