Exploring the Role of Land-Based Education in Addressing Food Security, Climate Change, and Biodiversity Challenges

Food security, climate change and the biodiversity crisis are major challenges and universities and colleges in the UK hold a central role in providing solutions.

To tackle these challenges, GuildHE and Landex have worked in collaboration to launch the Land Based Education Manifesto: A Foundation For Prosperity with eight key recommendations to government, policymakers and wider stakeholders.

Agriculture in the UK provides half the food that we eat and employs 4.2 million people across the agri-food sector. The gross value added to the economy in 2021 was 13 billion from agriculture and fishing alone, rising to 128 billion as a whole sector.

Universities and colleges are essential to deliver a knowledgeable and technically skilled agricultural, horticulture and land-based workforce able to embed scientifically proven sustainable practices and adopt emerging technologies in support of a thriving economy. Universities and colleges are also core to developing new approaches to food and farming through research and innovation.

The GuildHE and Landex manifesto proposes that government, policymakers and wider stakeholders should:

• Recognise food and environmental security as a national priority
• Develop a national strategy to grow and upskill the workforce
• Launch an ambitious national land based careers awareness campaign
• Develop better ways of recognising the skilled nature of land based careers
• Increase research funding for agri-food discovery research
• Provide national support for demonstration farms throughout the UK
• Continue support for the high costs of agriculture and land based subjects and specialist colleges and universities
• Target the apprenticeship levy funding at small businesses in strategically important areas

GuildHE represents more than 60 smaller and specialist universities and colleges in the UK including providers in professional subject areas related to agriculture and food and is an officially recognised representative body for UK higher education. Landex represents 39 universities and colleges across the UK that deliver education and training in land based occupational areas.

Gordon McKenzie, Chief Executive of GuildHE said:  “Land based education is vital to underpinning a thriving UK economy and to deliver on a range of national targets including green skills priorities and net zero.

“It is crucial that government, universities and colleges work together strategically to achieve these and the eight key recommendations to government, policy makers and wider stakeholders listed in the joint manifesto with Landex.”

Alex Payne, Chief Executive of Landex, said: “Food security, climate change and the biodiversity crisis are some of the biggest issues facing society today.

“Sustainable farming, agri-tech and land based education are essential to tackling these challenges by developing a workforce of problem solvers, critical thinkers and entrepreneurs. New systems, business models and practices for managing land will be fundamental to future national and global prosperity.

“Working in collaboration with GuildHE, we are pleased to launch a series of practical proposals that we believe will make a real impact.”

Professor Ken Sloan, Vice-Chancellor of Harper Adams, added: “We need to make the UK’s food and farming competitive in a world where we will need to compete globally – and we need to recognise food and environmental security as national priorities.

“This report makes a series of recommendations which will help take that need from an aspiration to a reality.

“As a Board member of GuildHE, I was very pleased to contribute to its development and highlight the work we are already do at Harper Adams, building capacity in research and innovation as well as developing the skills of both the current and the next generation of food, farming and sustainability professionals.

“I’ll certainly be using every opportunity in the coming months to emphasise this report, and the recommendations it makes, to policymakers.”