TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh has backed a call by Writtle College urging more young people in Essex to consider agriculture as a career. 
The man known as “Britain’s favourite gardener” is an official patron of Writtle College and he said: “For too long the industry seems to have been too shy to promote why young people should work in it. It is for this reason I am so pleased to support this campaign.” 
The college has teamed up with a number of industry bodies to launch the new campaign, which aims to raise awareness of careers within agriculture.  Targeted at secondary school students, it aims to tackle stereotypes of the sector, as well as explaining the impact agriculture has on the world around us. 
Organisations such as Lantra, Bright Crop, Essex Young Farmers and Essex Agricultural Society, have backed the Writtle campaign. 
Craig Emery, Writtle College’s marketing manager, said: “Agriculture is such an important industry for the long-term future of the planet and it’s vital the younger generation understands the impact agriculture has on all our lives.” 
However, research by the organisation Farming and Countryside Education shows 96 per cent of young people would not consider a career in agriculture. 
 Spokesman for the organisation Dan Corlett said: “The main reason  seems to be that young people  aren’t aware of the diversity of roles, the scale of the industry, or the career potential. 
“We have to get through to them that agriculture is dynamic, highly professional, and above all – vital to our world. “