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Friday 12 March 2010
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A new strategy to ensure a profitable agriculture industry

In 2009 Defra tasked industry to ensure agriculture remains strong, productive, resilient and sustainable and to use skills to help achieve this.

 

The AgriSkills Forum took up that challenge and seven months on has produced an ambitious new strategy, the AgriSkills Strategy.

 

The strategy aims to ensure the UK can equip itself with the right skills to ensure a profitable and sustainable agricultural industry for the future.

 

The driving force behind the AgriSkills Strategy is Richard Longthorp, a Yorkshire pig farmer and the national chairman of the AgriSkills Forum, together with the National Farmers Union, Lantra, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Landex and key employers from industry.

 

On Tuesday 24 November, members of the Forum met with Environment Secretary Hiliary Benn MP, to present him with their vision for the first time. It was agreed by all members that the meeting had been extremely encouraging, with all bodies, including the minister, being fully commited to driving the strategy forward.

 

Following this meeting, the AgriSkills Forum opened up the draft strategy for wider consultation within the agricultural industry and on the 10 February 2010 launched the strategy in London with support from Hiliary Benn MP.

 

For more information about the AgriSkills Forum visit www.AgriSkillsForum.co.uk.

 

Madge Moore

"Our industry faces many issues that go far beyond the affects of the recession. Having enough food to feed the country is key and having the skills to combat the serious impact climate change is having on our land is essential. It’s clear there’s a need to address the skills of both employers and employees and this strategy goes a long way towards addressing that. It is vital that more within industry understand the aims of the strategy and are prepared to get behind it. 

Madge Moore, Lantra’s Director for England

Richard Longthorp and pigs

 "We want to see a sector fully capable of meeting today’s challenges, delivered by a workforce that is recognised for its professionalism, where farming is valued and is an attractive career of choice."  Richard Longthorp

 

Launch of the AgriSkills strategy - 10 February 2010

On Wednesday 10 February the AgriSkills Strategy was launched in London.

 

Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, joined key industry representatives for the launch in recognition of the report’s importance.

 

Click here to read the full story and view pictures from the event...