Overview of the land-based sector
Land-based Sector Overview
- The land-based sector spans a variety of industries, all predominantly associated with agriculture and the environment.
- The purpose of the land-based sector: provision of food, fuel, and fibre, as well as maintaining a healthy environment.
Key industries in the land-based sector
- Farming: Crops are grown or animals reared for food and materials.
- Forestry: Involves the management of forests and woodlands.
- Horticulture: Encompasses plant propagation, cultivation and maintenance.
- Equine (horse rearing and care): Involves training, breeding, and care for horses.
- Fisheries: Focuses on the capture, cultivation and management of fish stocks, both marine and freshwater.
Roles within the Land-based Sector
- Farm Manager: Responsible for the daily management of a farm.
- Agricultural Engineer: Maintenance and improvement of farming machinery.
- Forester: Manages and conserves forests or woodlands.
- Horticulturist: Cultivates and maintains plants.
- Equine Groom: Takes care of horses’ diet, health and training.
- Fisheries Officer: Manages and protects fisheries.
Importance of the Land-based Sector
- Food security: Ensuring a sustainable supply of food.
- Income generation: Many rural economies depend upon land-based industries.
- Environmental protection: Land-based industries often play major roles in conservation efforts.
Challenges faced by the Land-based Sector
- Climate change: Extreme weather events and changing climates can impact crop yields and livestock health.
- Decreasing biodiversity: High intensity farming is a leading cause of species loss.
- Feeding a growing population: With the global population increasing, there's a greater demand for food products.
- Technological changes: Rapid innovation in tech requires adaptation and skill updates.
Skills and Qualifications for Land-based Careers
- Practical skills: Most roles require practical, hands-on abilities.
- Technology comprehension: Modern machinery can be complex.
- Lifelong learning: The evolving nature of the sector necessitates continuous learning.
- Specialised qualifications: Many roles require specific training or qualifications (e.g., chainsaw certification for forestry work).
Trends in the Land-based Sector
- Digital farming tools: GPS, drones, and satellites are increasingly used in farming.
- Sustainable practices: Minimizing environmental impacts is becoming increasingly important.
- Organic farming: Growing trend due to increased consumer demand.
- Urban farming: Rise of indoor farming and vertical gardening in urban spaces.
- Aquaponics: Combines fish farming with hydroponics (growing crops in water), which recycles nutrient-rich water from fish tanks to grow crops.