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Andrew

Andrew Richardson

I am an aquaculture expert who has been fortunate enough to spend close to a decade working and studying all over the world. My passion for this food system stems from my love for the sea and the food we source from it! Healthy, delicious, and full of heritage – our seas will play an increasingly important role in food security and nutrition. Currently, I am the Technical and Standards Manager at Salmon Scotland, the trade body for the Scottish Salmon sector. Salmon is a major employer in rural Scotland, and the UKs largest single food export, and thus an extremely important pillar of our economy and culture.

I am also the Founder and current President of the Young Aquaculture Society (YAS), a free-to-join young professional network for those working in the UKs aquaculture ecosystem. We seek to provide leadership opportunities, a forum to network, and a place to make lasting friendships for those with a passion for the industry we work in. We also hope to show off the wide breadth of job opportunities the sector has to offer young people to explore. An ocean of opportunity awaits…

Young Professional Networks: Comparing Agriculture to Aquaculture, with a view to support growth

Study Overview

Engaging with and inspiring young people is fundamental to a sectors continuation and growth. This truth is as relevant to farmers of the terrestrial and marine space as it is to any other profession. Young professional networks or youth organisations are a way to galvanise interest early and support new entrants through professional development and networking opportunities – but how these structures are used by industries varies.

My project, inspired by my work with the Young Aquaculture Society, is an exploration of how various agriculture and aquaculture systems around the world engage young people. I am interested in stimulating knowledge exchange to improve youth engagement. How these structures operate, are supported by or interact with respective their industry, and ultimately their success in capturing young professional/ youth interest are all questions I am looking to explore. In particular, I am interested in teasing apart differences between aquaculture and agriculture and understand any lessons that they could learn from each other.

I hope to provide recommendations that support companies and organisations make effective decisions about connecting with and growing young voices and people.