A visa scheme for seasonal workers has been extended until 2029 in a bid to tackle chronic labour shortages in the farming industry.

The sector has struggled with workforce shortages in recent years, following the end of free movement for EU workers after Brexit - with an estimated £60m worth of fruit and vegetable crops lost in 2022 due to a lack of labour.

Defra has announced a five-year extension to its seasonal six-month visa scheme for farm workers "to give farmers and growers the certainty they need to thrive".

A total of 43,000 visas will be available to the horticulture sector in 2025, with another 2,000  for poultry businesses.

Further details of visa numbers available for 2026 to 2029 will be set out later this year, the government said.

It was one of a series of measures announced in response to an independent review into labour shortages in the food supply chain, chaired by John Shropshire, the former chief executive of major East Anglian vegetable and salad growers G’s Fresh Group, based near Ely.

Other government commitments include up to £50m for new technology to support fully automated packhouses, and more support to bring robotic crop pickers "on a par with human pickers" in three to five years.

National Farmers' Union (NFU) president Tom Bradshaw said: “This will be a huge relief for the horticulture and poultry sectors that rely on seasonal workers.

“We have seen in the past how damaging shortages of workers has been, with approximately £60m worth of crops lost in 2022 due to a shortfall of workers.

"We know that with the correct trading conditions there are significant opportunities for growth and the commitment to a five-year scheme is very positive.

"Moving forward, it is vital to have assurance that the number of visas and the costs associated with accessing them will continue to meet the needs of our food producers."

Defra says its strategy aims to give growers time to "plan effectively" and invest in automation to move away from their reliance on migrant labour.

Environment secretary Steve Barclay said: "Businesses do best when they can plan effectively for the future, which is why we’ve extended the seasonal worker visa route until 2029 to give farmers and growers the certainty they need to thrive."