•    Only 4% of young people surveyed are considering a career in farming and food supply
•    Bright Crop and NFYFC to attend major careers fair to promote industry job opportunities
•    High-tech and innovation should be industry buzz words


A lack of interest in a career in farming and food supply has prompted two of the industry’s major youth organisations to join forces to help promote the opportunities available for young people.

Bright Crop and The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) are teaming up to showcase the range of jobs on offer in the sector to 75,000 children, aged between seven and 19 years old, at The Big Bang Career Fair from 11-14 March at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

Now in its seventh year, The Big Bang Fair is the largest celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects for young people in the UK and was the winner of the 'Educational Event of The Year' award at the UK Event Awards in 2014.

The two organisations are keen to show that a career in agriculture can be much broader than working on a farm.

Only four per cent of young people, who responded to a survey conducted on behalf of Bright Crop*, said they were considering a career in farming and food supply. It is believed that misconceptions around the range of roles in the industry are dissuading children from viewing agriculture as a career option worth pursuing.

Volunteers from Young Farmers’ Clubs and Bright Crop Ambassadors will be at The Big Bang Fair to talk about their jobs and experience, as well as demonstrate the exciting opportunities on offer to young people.

Bright Crop Ambassador Andrew Brown, who will be attending The Big Bang Fair, said:

“It is vital that the food and farming sector promote their industry and its opportunities in schools. Not only are school children our customers of the future, but they are also the scientists, technicians and engineers who will drive the industry forward.

“Many children think farming and food production is all about getting cold wet and dirty, but there are so many exciting and varied careers in the sector that they may not have even considered. This is where the Bright Crop Ambassadors come in to explain how they can become involved in a forward thinking, modern and high tech industry which we all rely on every day of our lives.”

Lynsey Martin, Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Issues Steering Group at NFYFC, said:

“The industry needs to go back to school to teach young people that agriculture is about technology and innovation. We need to show young people how many different roles there are in agriculture and promote the future of an industry that will be much more reliant on scientists and engineers.

“Members of Young Farmers’ Clubs do not all live and work on farms – but many of us have exciting and varied roles within the industry. We want to shout about this amazing sector and to encourage more talented people to join us in making it bigger and better.”