With the conflict in Ukraine threatening a global food security crisis, a new survey reveals young farmers’ concerns for the future of farming and food production. 

The Future Land Use survey, conducted by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC)*, reflects the fears of young farmers – even before the war had started – over global food supplies and price hikes following the pandemic and Brexit.  

The challenges for this generation of farmers are greater than any in living memory. While facing a global pandemic for the first time in 100 years, they are also adapting to the demands of seismic change in agricultural policy and coping with the global shock of rising inflation. 

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The greatest future policy priorities identified for land management were food security, balancing environmental and food production costs and the opportunity for respondents to both live and work in the countryside.

Their views and priorities, as shared in this survey and in NFYFC’s 2020 ‘Covid-19 and a Post Brexit Rural Future’ survey, are clear and involve:

1. A concern for food security (more than two thirds – 67% - cited this as the most important issue for future policy development)
2. A commitment to food production (40% of respondents said this was a priority), within progressive environmental standards
3. An acknowledgement of huge barriers to access farming for new entrants. (Over 70% of respondents thought it would be difficult or impossible for new entrants to enter the farming industry).

Public Goods cause Food Production fears

In the face of an increased policy trajectory towards supporting farmers with a greater emphasis on creating public goods rather than food, there is a strong commitment among young people (40% of respondents) to food production. 

One survey respondent said: “More important now than ever for the UK to be able to survive by itself without reliance on any other countries, with the pandemic and Brexit, this is shown to be massively important. This would mean we would have more control over food prices and food growing practices and chemicals. With a growing population, we need to be able to provide for more of the population using our own resources.”

The majority of respondents (39%) were uncertain about the seven-year transition away from an EU-based system to England schemes.

Despite a good grasp of reasons behind the changes ahead, the survey findings suggest a high proportion of young people looking to enter or progress in the industry believe it will become more difficult. Plans are needed for diversification, addressing climate change and collaborating to help manage land most effectively. 

Only a third (32%) of respondents felt that there are relevant training and development opportunities across England for people wanting to get into farming or land management.

NFYFC’s YFC AGRI Chair Charlotte Garbutt said: 

“All the usual barriers for new entrants and next generation farmers and land managers need support and review, such as access to finance and land, business support and effective mentoring. 

“While young farmers are keen to address the challenges ahead, there must be a clear understanding of how new government schemes will work in harmony with food production and land management so that our renowned and marketable standards in environmental and animal welfare are optimised.  

“Common sense and government departments’ joined-up thinking need to kick into action to ensure that our future business plans can be viable. Defra must consider the key role that food production and a future workforce plays in land management.”

Uncertainty for the future is prominent in the survey with 60% of respondents saying they do not know how the current and future policy changes will affect them – (21%) felt the changes would be positive and (18%) considered them to be negative. The findings suggest young farmers want more details, input and consideration about the proposed changes so they can better understand their impact.   

NFYFC launched its Defra-supported research project Future Land Use in 2021 for YFC members and next generation groups to share their views on the direction of agricultural policy and future of land use in England, explore the challenges and find solutions to navigate the diverse range of policy aims for land use. 

Download the summary report here.