Page 31 - Pembrokeshire Skills Report 2024

Food & Land Management
Future Skills
Many new skills will be required in the near
future given the current political landscape in this
spotlight sector. Changes will involve:
• New funding models for appropriating a
proportion of land to habitat and woodland
planting / management / conservation
• Net Zero emissions targets, methane capture
• SLM and regulatory requirements
• Machinery and power transitions – Hydrogen
/ Methane
• Land use change
• Energy Projects
• Carbon Capture
• Diversification of farm produce
• Horticulture diversification (cultural shift away
from animal products)
• Local food system networks for tourism
demands
• Digital and technology advances. (AI can help
the farmer but can't fully replace)
Future Skills Mapping
• Mechanical Engineers
• Horticulture
• Farm Diversification
• Habitat and woodland management
• Emissions tracking and monitoring
• Energy capture & storage
• Digital literacy, basic to advanced /
Automation / AI
• Sustainability / Circular economics
• Planning
• Problem solving
• Methane storage and fuel conversion
• Renewable Energy
• Decarbonisation
• Project Management
• R&D
Digital, STEM and Engineering skills for this
sector are predicted to increase significantly as
industry look to streamline processes and
increase productivity within the confines of a
tightened labour market and changes to
legislation.
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Food & land management sector are already
early adopters of technology such as automated
milking and feeding systems, GPS and
automated machinery advances, drones etc.
therefore new ways or working, (smart working)
is not alien to this sector when a clear benefit is
seen.
Ref emissions, trails are underway using methane
to power farm machinery which potentially could
be captured and converted to fuel on site. Many
landowners are also erecting wind turbines and
solar arrays to power the business.
Clear benefits must be prominent in the new
SLM legislation, otherwise the county runs the
risk of a loss of experience and skill over the
coming years if legislation is enforced without
benefit demonstration..
Focus needs to be placed on the next generation
to be encouraged into the sector and breakdown
current perceptions. Mentoring and skill
transitions are needed now to aid the transition
of replacing the ageing workforce. Much local
land knowledge may be lost.