The NFU has launched its AgriFuture Scholarship Programme at its inaugural Challenge Day, a pioneering event aimed at addressing one of the most important issues facing British agriculture today – diversity and inclusion.
Hosted at the University of Birmingham’s STEAMhouse innovation hub and supported by NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, the Challenge Day has brought together more than 70 stakeholders from the farming, education and food sectors to collaborate on solutions to attract and support those from ethnically diverse communities into agriculture.
The day offered delegates an active reflection and learning experience with the goal of creating a manifesto by the end of the event. This document will outline practical steps to increase racial diversity in agriculture, ensuring the sector can attract and retain the best talent.
The AgriFuture Scholarship Programme, launched by NFU Education in partnership with the Outward Bound Trust, is a bold initiative aimed at improving diversity and inclusion within British agriculture by inspiring and supporting young people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in farming.
Keynote speakers included NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos, food writer and presenter Mallika Basu, and BAMEed representative Kulvinder Johal.
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos said: “Better reflecting the diversity of the UK population isn’t just the right thing to do for agriculture, it’s essential to its future. Agriculture is facing unprecedented pressures, accelerated by increasing and widespread skills shortages. As the least ethnically diverse sector in the UK, there is an urgent need to unlock its full potential by embracing and including talent from all walks of life. The Challenge Day represents a unique opportunity to bring stakeholders together to create meaningful, lasting change.”