Could a Skills Gap Hinder the Agri-Tech Sector's Growth Potential?
Our recent STEM-focused event for secondary school children identified significant gaps in young people’s awareness and understanding of the agri-tech sector. So how do we attract the next generation of talent and skills needed to support this high-growth potential industry?
In the ‘UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy’ published earlier this year by the Department for Business and Trade, agri-tech was identified as one of six frontier manufacturing industries with the greatest growth potential.
Innovation and advances in the sector will require the right skills and talent. But how aware are the next generation of the agri-tech industry, and how appealing are the career paths in food and farming to attract the future talent needed to capitalise on its potential?
At a recent event, run in partnership between Growing Kent & Medway and The STEM Hub, we identified a significant gap in student awareness of the agri-tech sector. A pre-event survey showed that of the 180 young people attending, 55% disagreed with the statement ‘I know what the agri-tech industry is.’
In addition, a third of the students surveyed were unaware of career opportunities in food and farming.
Held at Canterbury Christ Church University, the event, ‘Agri-Tech Xperience: The future of careers in farming and food’, was designed to raise awareness of the sector. Over 180 students aged between 11 to 13 years attended from 11 schools across Kent and Medway.
Students experimented with digital cherry detection technology,
preparing them for an increasingly automated sector.
Our pre-event evaluation underlined the need to substantially improve students’ understanding and awareness of the industry. However, it also demonstrated how engaging activities could make significant strides to close that gap and help raise awareness and interest in pursuing related careers.
Following workshops and keynote talks from industry professionals and academics throughout the day, awareness and interest in the agri-tech sector increased significantly.
By the end of the event, only 4% disagreed with the statement ‘I know what the agri-tech industry is.’ And 80% of students agreed they now know there are different types of careers available in the industry.
James Bennett, co-ordinator for The Stem Hub, said, “Providing students with opportunities to engage in new experiences, such as this agri-tech event, serves as an effective platform to reshape young people’s perceptions of future career pathways. The hands-on workshops offer valuable insights into the workings of the agri-food industry, where they have the potential to inspire genuine interest in the sector, broadening their career horizons.”
Enjoyment was central to the design of the day, and 89% of the students expressed that they enjoyed the event, highlighting strong engagement.
Students saw a state-of-the-art 3D food printer in action – could
this be a step towards the food of the future?
Simon Barnes, Director for Growing Kent & Medway, said: “Technology and digitalisation has the potential to transform our food systems; helping us improve the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of how our food is produced. But also ensuring people can have access to affordable, nutritious food to support the health and well-being of our society.”
“The role of agri-tech in our food systems is only going to become more important, and it is vital that we are engaging with young people, the careers service, parents and schools to highlight the exciting potential of this industry for their future careers.”
The event kicked off with a keynote talk delivered by Chris Baldwin, APS Produce, Ash. He captivated the audience by taking them on a journey through the intricate process of growing a single tomato at scale. His presentation opened young minds to the cutting-edge technology and innovation that underpin modern horticulture.
Chris explored key elements such as water, CO₂, light, heat, and nutrients that all delivered with precision through advanced climate control systems. He also highlighted on-site energy production and the increasing use of robotics, showcasing how technology is transforming the tomato production industry.
Chris Baldwin presented the keynote talk on tomato production,
highlighting the importance of STEM skills to the horticultural industy.
The students could then participate in the following workshops, which covered a range of topics from robotics and AI, earth science, and sustainable agriculture. Each session provided a chance to get hands-on and experience real careers within these areas:
- Cherry detection using computer vision
- Marvellous hoverflies: multitalented friends of fruit
- CCCU Engineering department tour
- Genetics and breeding of fruit crops
- Medway Food Innovation Centre: 3D Food Printing and Water Activity in Food
- The Secret Life Beneath Our Feet: Exploring the Underground Network
- Biological Pest Control, an approach for healthy future
- The Case of the Silent Patients
- Storing and transporting fresh produce
- Grow with the Glow of Seaweed
The event was held on 4th July 2025 at Canterbury Christ Church University and supported by Locate in Kent.
Thank you to our workshop providers, APS Produce, Canterbury Christ Church University – Engineering and Computing, Niab, Russell IPM Ltd, STEM Ambassador, University of Kent – the Biotechnology Hub, University of Greenwich – The Produce Quality Centre and the Medway Food Innovation Centre.