Thousands of school visits are already made to farms around the UK each year, however, several charities and NGOs, amongst them the Countryside Alliance and the Soil Association, have called for food and farming to comprise a compulsory part of the national curriculum. image expired

The groups believe every pupil should have the opportunity to visit a farm in their school life to learn how the food they eat is produced, develop respect for the countryside and increase their wellbeing by experiencing rural life.  

The groups, as well as schools that welcome their message, have suggested farmers could also visit schools to teach pupils where their food comes from as well as demanding more school trips to working farms and an increased emphasis on food production in lessons.  

Sarah Lee, head of policy at the Countryside Alliance said, “We have a whole generation missing out on a vital part of their education; if we don’t have children who understand about food and farming, if we don’t have children who don’t want to come back, live in the countryside and have a vibrant career in the countryside, then we will end up urbanising our population and we will lose out on a valuable asset.”

Ms Lee said everyone should understand “the very landscape they treasure on their holidays is a living, working environment.” The countryside alliance, as well as the Soil Association, has called for a greater focus on farming and food policy to be injected into existing subjects, rather than proposing the creation of a new subject for food and farming.

Bill Graham, Chief Executive of Farming and Countryside Education (FACE) said, “[Children] don’t have to be taught anything about the countryside at the moment... it’s up to the individual teacher.” He agreed with the Countryside Alliance that an increased focus on farming in education, which he said could be used to illustrate a concept in a science lesson or promote wellbeing on a school trip, would be hugely beneficial for youngsters.

Although he acknowledged there are no concrete figures which show how many young people visit farms, Mr Graham said an increased emphasis on food in schools, including food growing food and learning about the farming industry, would have other benefits for young people.