We are all wondering what sort of deal we are going to end up with post-Brexit for agriculture and horticulture, including trade, labour access, regulation and support payments. We know support payments are to be reduced, so productivity and efficiency gains are as critical as ever.
Food production is evolving into a highly specialised industry utilising some of the most innovative technical and data systems available. We have moved a long way already but there is a lot more around the corner. There is plenty coming down the tracks including robotics, autonomous tractors, precision farming systems, and disease and yield forecasting models, to name but a few.
The growth of the horticulture sector is particularly important as people are being encouraged to eat more fruit and vegetables. These are exciting times for us with great opportunities, and we could be on the brink of an agricultural revolution.
It is not just about investing in the latest technologies and equipment though. We will need a highly skilled, professional workforce from business leaders through to machine operators. This is going to be essential if we are to maintain the pace of change required and continue to produce high-quality, nutritious food grown in a sustainable manner.
Some of my G’s colleagues are members of the Skills Senior Leadership Group (SSLG). The purpose of this group is to ensure the required skill-set needs in the agri-food sector are recognised and properly represented in the Food & Drink Sector Council’s response to the UK industrial strategy.
Made up of representatives from across industry, as well as educational and research organisations, our aim is to develop a coordinated vision and strategy for skills and training for the industry to increase the capacity and productivity of our workforce.
We need to retain and attract new people who have the aptitude to succeed in a fast-paced, technologically advanced environment. The industry can no longer rely on a one-off qualification or no qualification at all. Implementing and valuing continuous learning and development across the industry is vital for us.
Advanced leadership is required to develop our people, so they can embrace innovation and change. Management skills are essential to deploy the range of specialists inputting into our business. Technical skills are vital to operate new and continuously developing machinery. Not only do we need these skills, we need a system that identifies and signposts the relevant training at the appropriate time in a simple and straightforward way.
By developing a professional structure for our industry, we develop an industry with capacity for change, a drive for excellence and a strong future regardless of the Brexit outcomes. It’s an exciting piece of work and we could all benefit from continuous development.
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