More than half of British farmers are considering leaving the industry as mounting financial, environmental and policy pressures push the sector towards crisis, according to new research from McCain Foods.

The frozen food giant’s inaugural Farmdex report found that 51% of respondents have thought about exiting farming in the past year, while nearly three-quarters (74%) feel pessimistic about the future of British agriculture.

The findings point to a sector under growing strain from economic instability, volatile weather and shifting government support.

Comparatively, the report found just 4% of farmers surveyed believe current policy measures are adequate.

Mental health concerns are also widespread, with 61% saying their work has a negative impact on their wellbeing and more than a third (36%) working over 70 hours a week during peak seasons.

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Yet amid the challenges, the report highlights resilience, with 71% of farmers said they have adopted sustainable practices such as crop rotation and precision farming, while 68% stressed that greater investment in technology is vital for long-term survival.

Meanwhile, the report showed that family farms remain the backbone of British agriculture, with 83% of farmers working alongside relatives. However 95% fear that tradition could disappear within a decade without stronger government backing.

McCain UK and Ireland vice president of agriculture James Young said the findings should serve as a wake-up call.

“Farming is the foundation of Britain’s food system, and its importance to our economy and national food security cannot be overstated,” he said. “We’ve invested £100m in our grower base since 2020, but we can’t do it alone — government, industry and businesses need to act together.”

McCain is urging policymakers to prioritise food security, improve long-term support for family farms and promote regenerative agriculture to help ensure the sector’s viability.

The full Farmdex report, which McCain says will be updated annually, aims to provide a benchmark for understanding the pressures and prospects facing UK farmers.

In recent years, the supermarket sector has poured investment into the farming industries. Last month Lidl vowed to invest a record £30bn to support the British food and farming industry over the next five years