Adam Dance MP backs new ‘Farm First’ plan to protect Somerset’s farming future and tackle food security crisis

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is backing a major new Liberal Democrat proposal to strengthen Britain’s food security, including the creation of a new Farm First training scheme modelled on Teach First. The scheme would encourage more young people to enter farming and help secure the long-term future of British food production.

New Government figures show that only 5 percent of farmers are under the age of 35, raising serious concerns about the future of the sector. Adam warns that Somerset could lose the next generation of farmers unless the Government acts now to make agricultural careers more accessible and better supported.

The plans also call for stronger education on nutrition, home grown food and how Britain produces its own food. This comes at a time when 1 in 5 children and 1 in 10 households are living in food poverty. The Liberal Democrats argue that improving understanding of where food comes from, supporting more locally grown produce and widening access to agricultural training must be central to a secure and resilient food system.

The party is also continuing to campaign for the Government to reverse the changes to the Family Farm Tax, which have caused deep concern across rural communities.

Speaking about the plans, Adam Dance MP said:

“It is shocking that so many families are struggling to afford food while farmers across Somerset are being pushed to the brink by rising costs and the threat of the Family Farm Tax.

“We need a complete reset in how this country values farming and where our food comes from. A ‘Farm First’ scheme would give young people a clear route into agriculture, with the training and confidence to build a future in the industry.

“If the Government continues to turn a blind eye, we will not only lose essential rural skills, we will also weaken our own food security. No country is secure if it cannot feed itself.”

Adam added that farming is at the heart of Somerset’s identity, economy and landscape, and must remain a viable career for future generations.