Land prices in the UK are hindering new entrants from getting a foot on the farming ladder.
A new video explains how across Europe new farmers struggle to find land to start their farming careers.
It is produced by the Access to Land network, a group of European initiatives.
The video features farmers from France, Italy, the Catalan Pyrenees and Romania, and commentators including George Monbiot.
As competition for land grows with the increase of urban infrastructure and development, the Access to Land network looks to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people who want to safeguard land for local food production.
Fifteen organisations work together as part of the network to help share experiences and campaign for recognition of the issues around safeguarding land for agroecological farming.
In the UK the main partners are the Soil Association and the Real Farming Trust.
Rachel Harries from the Soil Association said; “We're working with different European organisations to find out what people are doing in different countries, what the problems are, how they're addressing them, whether they're renting land or buying land, or putting it into community ownership.
"Through the Access to Land network we want to bring all this information together from across Europe and share it so that we can try and put some of these good ideas into practice in our own countries.”
Kate Collyns, who features in the video, is a perfect example of a small scale grower who overcame challenges in finding land to start her business. She came from a background in publishing and then re-trained through the Soil Association’s Future Grower apprenticeship.
"Kate, who couldn’t afford to buy land, said; “I am now renting land from the main farm, working closely with the farmer – who is really supportive.
"If you have a good landlord and the land already has some other resources like infrastructure or routes to market, it can work really well. I sell my produce as an independent business to the farm shop and café owned by the farmer, which keeps things nice and straight forward. I'm a tenant and supplier.”
