VIDEO: McDonald’s creates YF training scheme

McDonald’s has launched a new agricultural training scheme to equip young farmers with the modern skills needed to secure the UK’s farming future.

The scheme will see agricultural students complete a 12-month placement scheme to gain experience of the agricultural supply chain, from farm to abattoir to restaurant.

Starting in July, the scheme will see students being placed on farm for six months, where they will be mentored by some of the most progressive farmers in the UK.

Brian Mullens, senior vice president for McDonald’s UK, said: “Students will learn everything from producing quality food to how that food goes through our supply chain to be delivered into restaurants.”

Agriculture students Christina Ford and Chris Fox have been chosen to take part in the scheme.

Ms Ford said: “I hope to learn a lot from the placement. Many farmers don’t know what goes on past the farm gate.”

Mr Fox added: “My background is solely in farming and this will give me insight into why one part needs the other part.”

Farmers and students discuss the Farm Forward scheme.

Gloucestershire beef farmer Paul Westaway is backing the scheme at a time when Lantra says 52,000 new farmers are needed in Britain over the next decade to secure the future of the industry.

“We need more young farmers and they need to be more business-minded and more technical,” said Mr Westaway.

Terry Pickthall, placement manager at Harper Adams University College, said: “The placement represents best practice in offering agricultural students the chance to gain hands-on practical skills and commercial nous. This is a unique opportunity for young people starting their careers to work across McDonald’s entire supply chain, from the farm through to the restaurant counter.

“Through this programme, McDonald’s is playing its part in equiping the next generation of farmers with the knowledge and experience they need to succed in a dynamic agri-food sector. The insight these students will gain will be invaluable as they look to start their careers as farm managers and agricultural professionals.”

The training programme is part of Farm Forward, a new long-term McDonald’s initiative that aims to help secure a sustainable future for British and Irish farming by supporting existing farmers and new entrants.

The scheme was created in partnership with leading agricultural colleges and some of McDonald’s biggest suppliers, including McCain and food production companies OSI Food Solutions and Tulip.

With an initial first-year investment of £1m, Farm Forward will support two additional projects.

Firstly, this year more than 200 livestock farmers will trial a new free and simple carbon calculator to help them measure and understand how they could change their working practices to drive greater efficiencies on their farms and improve environmental performance.

The calculator has been created by E-CO2 following a two-year research study with the Carbon Trust, which measured the carbon emissions of 350 beef farms across the UK and Ireland.

Secondly, funding will be allocated for new research and innovation to encourage improvements in animal welfare standards.

McDonald’s spends more than £320m per year on its UK supply chain and it buys ingredients from over 17,500 British and Irish farmers for its menu.