Aldi has teamed up with the Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF) to support and encourage the introduction of new farmers to the UK agriculture industry.
A new initiative from the farming charity named ‘Opening the gate’, and supported by the German discounter, explores some of the barriers facing new entrants and young people entering the farming sector.
The partnership comes as the farming sector has taken a hit over recent months, due to supply chain issues and extreme weather conditions which has lead to crop shortages.
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For those who wish to pursue a career within it, getting started can “often be challenge for new entrants” due to the barriers they face, the PCF said.
Some of these key obstacles include land, money, connections – meaning the bars for entry are quite high.
Research from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 2020 stated the median age for a farm holder in the UK was 60, and only three per cent were under 35.
A 2022 survey by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs found that more than 70 per cent of respondents thought it would be difficult or impossible for new entrants to enter the farming industry.
Furthermore, the PCF found that another key barrier was negative public perception and a fear of backlash on social media, as 56% of respondents did not know where or how to access existing support.
As a result, the PCF have created a series of brand new virtual workshops based on the findings from ‘Opening the gate’.
The key focuses of the virtual workshops include education in schools, social media training, cash injections (small grants) and a land matching service in England.
The workshops are aimed at college, school and university leavers and at those with some industry experience. It will be free and accessible for all young people and new entrants.
The news comes as Waitrose has partnered with the Prince’s Countryside Fund to offer joint ‘Happiness Grants’, which will fund community grassroots projects addressing challenges such as food poverty, mental health and loneliness.
