About Us

Details about Agriculture-4-U.

Combine Harvester at Agriculture-4-U
Combining Wheat August 2009.

The idea for this web site came about when, having been a farmer for 20+ years, I started teaching science in a rural secondary school in East Yorkshire and quickly realised two things:

  • How little today’s pupils knew about farming and where their food came from.

  • What a marvelous resource agriculture and the countryside was for teaching and not just in science

The vision of giving all the school children in the UK a basic understanding of the countryside including where and how their food is produced soon followed. Using our unique set of skills and knowledge of agriculture this web site has been produced to provide a video diary of UK Agriculture for the general public, but also curriculum linked videos for specific lessons from the QCA Schemes of Work for various subjects and both Primary and Secondary schools.

Recent news items and TV program on the ‘Future of Food’ have only served to reinforce our conviction in what Agriculture-4-U is trying to achieve. We also feel we have a unique set of skills to allow us to do this. With over 20 years experience of UK Agriculture coupled with our teaching and IT skills we are able to form the link between the UK Agriculture Industry and education in a way not often achieved by others.

Our links with local farmers and their endorsement of what we are trying to achieve has helped us source the necessary video such that you will think you are down on the farm with us…

We aim to remain independent to allow us to give a balanced view of the issues facing today’s UK Agriculture and land use:

  • Why for instance do we import food from Kenya, which could be grown in this country when many Kenyans are starving?

  • Who led us to expect tomatoes, any vegetable and strawberries to be available in shops all year round in, instead of seasonally as was the norm just 20-30 years ago?

  • Should we use GM Foods to feed the world?

We have lots of idea to take this forward and these will appear as we complete the filming and editing over the coming months….

We can also respond to requests – just let us know your ideas….

It is you using this site in your classroom which will make it work and help us achieve our and I’m sure your, vision too…

Mark Thompson

Agriculture-4-U.co.uk