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Agriculture and Food Security

Agriculture and food security are deeply interconnected topics that are central to global development, health and sustainability.  

 Agriculture is the practice of cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising animals for food, fuel, and other products used to sustain and enhance human life. Key areas for consideration in agriculture are: 

  • Crop production: growing grains (like wheat, rice, maize), fruits, vegetables and legumes.
  • Animal husbandry: raising livestock such as cows, pigs, poultry, and goats for meat, milk, eggs and wool.
  • Agrotechnology: use of technology in agriculture, such as precision farming, drones, sensors, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
  • Sustainable agriculture: practices that maintain soil fertility, use water efficiently, reduce chemical inputs and protect biodiversity. 

In the UK, the official definition of food security aligns with the well‑established 1996 World Food Summit formulation: “When all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”   Source: United Kingdom Food Security Report 2024: Introduction, Policy Paper A UK Government food strategy for England, considering the wider UK food system. 

 The Link Between Agriculture and Food Security 

  • Primary source of food: agriculture provides the food needed for a secure diet.
  • Livelihoods: over 25% of the world’s population depends directly on agriculture for income. This is an estimate from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Bank. According to the World Bank, agriculture employs about 26% of the global workforce, although this varies by region (e.g., 50–60% in sub-Saharan Africa).
  • Nutrition: diverse agricultural systems contribute to balanced, healthy diets.
  • Climate and environment: sustainable farming protects the environment, which is essential for long-term food production. 

For a more detailed look at the UK sector and some of the challenges it faces, refer to United Kingdom Food Security Report 2024: Introduction. 

Example job roles: 

The agriculture and food security sector offers a range of job opportunities, extending far beyond traditional farming roles.  

To browse jobs in the agricultural sector, see the National Careers Services website. 

Prospects has a useful article which provides an overview of Graduate possibilities in Agriculture, covering an oversight of the sector, how to gain work experience, details of relevant qualifications and links to job roles.

Skills employers look for

Every employer is different so there are no definitive lists here. These are meant as a guide and should be considered in addition to fully exploring the role requirements outlined in the person specification, job description and advert for each role you consider applying for.  

To be successful in a career in agriculture and food security, employers are looking for a combination of  technical skills and knowledge as well as more general transferrable softer skills.  

  • Ability to plan and conduct research
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Initiative - having the confidence to take initiative and make decisions is important in farming
  • Numeracy and IT - helpful for understanding and improving economics in the sector
  • Organisational skills
  • Project management skills
  • Strong communication skills, including influencing and leadership
  • Teamwork
  • Crop and livestock science
  • Farming practice, including use of machinery
  • Food production – understanding of supply chains and food systems
  • Land use
  • Policy and regulatory understanding
  • Sustainability and environmental management 

To develop these skills, Career Zone also offers a range of Personal and Professional Development sessions which are available to book on Handshake and run at least once per term.  Please also read through the sections about Gaining Experience and Further Study and Professional Development to discover how you can develop your skills through experience and by gaining further knowledge or qualifications.    

Gaining Experience

All experiences ranging from volunteering, active involvement in clubs/societies can help you to develop relevant and transferable skills.  

Relevant practical work experience will increase your chances of securing a job after graduation. If you don't have the opportunity to complete a placement year as part of your course, look for relevant work in the holidays. Try asking local commercial farms if they have any work or see if you can shadow someone working in farm management. 

Agricultural work placements offer a valuable bridge between classroom learning and real-world application. You'll gain hands-on experience, developing practical skills, industry insights, and professional connections that enhance your employability. 

Volunteering 

You can also search for local voluntary projects involving agricultural or environmental work in your area. Useful resources that provide details of contacts and opportunities for work experience include: 

  • Farmers Weekly is an ezine.
  • National Farmers Union (NFU) is a professional membership organising claiming to be the voice of UK farming and a representative body for its members.
  • National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs is the national leading body for Young Farmers Clubs around the UK. A vibrant and well supported organisation with a large membership.
  • Volunteering abroad on agriculture projects on farms, in forests and nature reserves is also an option. For opportunities, see organisations such as Volunteer Abroad and WWOOF. 

University of Exeter Employability Schemes 

  • Exeter Award - The Exeter Award will help you stand out from the crowd and give you the confidence to shout about the experiences you've had at university.
  • Green Consultants - an award-winning programme designed to provide students with additional skills and experience required to work in the highly competitive environmental and sustainability sector.
  • The Global Leaders Experience - a unique opportunity to develop your intercultural skills as part of a short, outbound mobility experience. 

Speculative applications and where to find opportunities 

Undertaking relevant work experience will also allow you to develop new skills and gain a valuable insight into the sector. As jobs and opportunities are not always advertised, it can be useful to develop your networking skills and make a speculative application. You may find it useful to read our researching employers page before making a speculative application. 

Finding part-time work  

Doing part-time work alongside your studies is a great way to build experience whilst earning money at the same time. A part-time role doesn’t always have to be relevant to the sector you’re planning on getting into, as any role you do will have transferrable skills (such as communication, teamwork, working to deadlines etc) which all employers will find valuable. The below list offers some ideas of where to start with your search.  

Finding advertised graduate roles, placements and internships

Competition can be strong, especially for entry-level positions. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers.  

For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page. 

Graduate schemes, internships and placements 

Placements  

If you are interested in finding out more about work placements, you can also access the Work Placements SharePoint via Single Sign-On. This resource covers all aspects of credit-bearing work experiences as part of your degree, including what a placement is, how to apply for them, and bespoke information for international students or those interested in working abroad.  

Further sources of support 

If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally. 

To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal.

Further study and professional development

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to develop their skills and knowledge of the sector and related occupations. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications. Use the sites below to research your further study options.  

Information and links from professional bodies 

Being a member of a professional body is voluntary; however, it can be valuable for developing networks, continuing your professional development, and generally keeping up to date with what's happening in the sector.  You might find this website useful to explore: Directory of the Professions | Information resource for all professional organisations in the UK. Outlined below is a just a selection of professional bodies that operate in the agriculture and food security sector that may be useful to research.