Agriculture in the United Kingdom uses 69% of the country's land area, employs 1% of its workforce (471,000 people)[1][2] and contributes 0.5% of its gross value added (£11.2 billion).[3] The UK currently produces about 54% of its domestic food consumption.[4]
Agricultural activity occurs in most rural locations. It is concentrated in the drier east (for crops) and the wetter west (for livestock).[5] There are 191,000 farm holdings, which vary widely in size.[6]
Despite skilled farmers, advanced technology, fertile soil and subsidies, farm earnings are relatively low, mainly due to low prices at the farm gate. Low earnings, high land prices and a shortage of let farmland discourage young people from joining the industry. The average (median) age of the British farm holder is about 60 (as of 2016).[7][8][9][10]
Recently there have been moves towards organic farming in an attempt to sustain profits, and many farmers supplement their income by diversifying activities away from pure agriculture. Biofuels present new opportunities for farmers against a background of rising fears about fossil fuel prices, energy security, and climate change. There is increasing awareness that farmers have an important role to play as custodians of the British countryside and wildlife.[11]
Back British agriculture
^"Chapter 2: Structure of industry". GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
^"After 170 years of labour market change, now only 1% of workers are in agriculture - ONS". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
^"Chapter 4: Accounts". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
^"United Kingdom Food Security Report 2021: Theme 2: UK Food Supply Sources". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
^"Agriculture in the English regions". Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. Government of the United Kingdom. 18 December 2019.
^"Chapter 2: Structure of industry". GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
^"Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2014 – Publications – Government of the United Kingdom". Government of the United Kingdom. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
^Cite error: The named reference defra was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference defra1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2021(PDF). DEFRA. 14 July 2022. pp. 26–27.
^Brown, Paul (2 February 1999). "Subsidies plan for farmers who help to restore wildlife". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
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