Farming, the Biggest Job on Earth

Choosing a career path is a daunting experience that can be undertaken at any age. The agricultural sector offers opportunities for almost any skills but knowing what’s out there isn’t always obvious! In this episode of ‘Farming, the Biggest Job on Earth’ we explore careers in food, farming and the environment. 

The global food system is driven by the passion and expertise of the people within it and the career opportunities are numerous and constantly adapting. The podcast shines a light on individuals who are connected by a shared enthusiasm for their careers and the role they play in the biggest job on earth. 

Olivia Midgley discusses how her career has evolved to become the Editor of one of the UK’s most read agricultural publications, the Farmer’s Guardian. We spoke to Christine Tacon, CEO of Management Development Services (MDS), a graduate scheme supporting new talent to gain experience in companies throughout the food and drinks sector. We were joined by 3 MDS trainees – Calum, Arunima, and Georgie – who’ve worked on farm, manufacturing, procurement and garden floristry. They share their experiences of getting into Ag and what excited them most about the industry. 

Finally, we spoke to Henry Stanford, Chairman of the Norfolk Young Farmer’s Association, an institution which aims to upskill people for working life and provide opportunities to socialise within rural communities. Henry is a passionate advocate for farming who invites those interested in rural careers to seek out support provided by Young Farmers.  

This episode’s conversations were recorded at a dinner bringing together people from across the food industry to celebrate the role of farming over a shared love of food and to discuss the challenges the industry faces. The evening was held at FarmED in the Cotswolds, a demonstration farm owned by Ian and Celene Wilkinson. Dinner guests included farmers alongside chef Ben Ebbrell, of Sorted Food fame, Government representatives, retail supply chain managers, Claire Evans the headteacher of an inner-city primary school and Professor David Hughes, an immensely well-travelled professor of global food chains. Against the backdrop of increasing pressures for farming to be profitable, rising food inflation and the government’s recent Farm to Fork Summit, the timing of this episode feels fitting, bringing together a host of people who shared a meal and conversations around the future of food, and its sustainable production. The best conversations and the fostering of understanding, happen around food.

This episode shines a light on food availability and affordability, and the role that individuals, charities, and community groups play in making meals available for the 14 million people in the UK – 4 million of them children - who are struggling to eat. Farm businesses up and down the country are going beyond their commitment to food production by initiating incredible work that supports their local communities to eat, and to eat well. This is a celebration of just how key farming and farmers are to looking after those around them. We at BASF are incredibly proud to share these stories. We spoke to farmers Andrew Stirling and Sally Mercer whose families supply charities and community organisations with surplus food to alleviate hunger and to support people in understanding food health and cooking from scratch. We also sat down with Ali Gourley from food redistribution charity, FareShare's, Public Affairs and Policy team to hear more about their campaign to source unharvested produce direct from farmers’ fields – at no cost to the farm. 

Over the festive period people come together with friends, family and sometimes strangers to celebrate. Food plays an essential role in all our celebrations and the festive plate is the outcome of hard work and dedication from our farmers. We caught up with 3 farming families who supply our food from the traditional turkey to the carrots and sprouts that adorn our plates. We also reflect on just how different Christmas will be for some people around the world this year. We spoke to an Agricultural Economist and refugee from Ukraine who tells us about the special food, moments, and traditions she shares with her family and her plans to travel back to Kyiv to be with them this Christmas.

In our first episode, we’re talking about all things bread. Where it comes from, how it’s made and our favourite types. We talk to Lincolnshire farmer Andrew Ward, who gives a frank picture of farming, and the role farmers play as stewards of the environment. Angus McDowell shares his experiences as a farmer, maltster, and miller from East Lothian and finally, we hear from Pete Welborn a third-generation family baker. Friends of BASF share their favourite bread and how they like to eat it and are way off in how many loaves the UK bakes every day. Have a listen and to show you’re support, tell us why you think farming is the biggest job on earth to receive a free t-shirt here: https://www.agricentre.basf.co.uk/biggestjobonearth/tshirts