Tesco has launched a multi-year programme to support farmers developing skills in sustainable agriculture and help them reach net zero targets.
The programme – launched in partnership with Harper Adams University’s School of Sustainable Food and Farming (SSFF) – has been launched in response to research suggesting young farmers have identified a skills gap in areas such as sustainability and the environment.
It will provide 75 young farmers with face-to-face and live online training, outlining how to implement sustainable agriculture practices and protect biodiversity.
Tesco chief product officer Ashwin Prasad said British agriculture plays a “crucial role in protecting and enhancing our natural environment” and it will be “right at the heart of the UK’s efforts to achieve its net zero ambitions”.
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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.
As part of the partnership with SSFF, the supermarket giant will also fund research projects aimed at addressing some of the key sustainability challenges affecting agriculture.
The first research project will look to bring together different sectors of Tesco’s agricultural supply base to understand how land can be managed in a way that is environmentally and economically sustainable for all parties involved in an agricultural rotation.
Harper Adams University SSFF director said the transition to sustainable food 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”.
National Farmers’ Union deputy president Tom Bradshaw welcomes Tesco’s programme and encourages future farmers to “take up the opportunity to advance their understanding and to learn from peer-to-peer experiences.”
“The Future Farmer Programme comes at a critical time and gives our future farmers an opportunity to develop and grow their skills in sustainable farming practices,” he said.
“This also addresses the need for training and development opportunities for up-and-coming British farmers where we have seen a skills gap particularly within sustainability and the environment.”
“We have reached a pivotal moment in British Agriculture and this programme will support the new generation of farmers to understand the issues, to recognise the opportunities, and to make progress with the right skill set.”
