West Cornwall MP Derek Thomas believes that more should be done to promote careers in food and farming.

Speaking at a debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday, the MP for St Ives said that the industry is struggling to attract young people.

He believes that the agricultural sector needs a skilled and enlarged workforce to be able to provide for the UK's growing population in the future.

Mr Thomas said: "There are many opportunities for young people to enjoy a skilled career in food and farming and schools, parents and careers advice agencies need to do more to spread the word about these opportunities.

“The Government has a role to play in building confidence that it is a great industry to be a part of, highlighting the excellent animal welfare and environmental standards that exist in the UK.

“As a nation we are still dependent on food imports as farmers only produced 61 per cent of the needs of the UK in 2015.

"While productivity has been rising at an average of 1.5 per cent per annum, we are in great need of young and highly skilled farmers to help come up with ways to keep this level increasing.

“We need to encourage young people that there are well paid jobs to be had and also that it can be a very good lifestyle choice with the opportunity to live in beautiful parts of the country which are good places to raise children, with access to good schools."