Research project
Feeding the nation: seasonal migrant workers and food security during COVID-19 pandemic
- Start date: 28 October 2020
- End date: 22 April 2022
- Funder: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
- Value: £311,088
- Primary investigator: Dr Roxana Barbulescu
- External co-investigators: Prof Carlos Vargas Silva (University of Oxford)
The UK edible horticulture sector relies on seasonal workers to plant, harvest and pack crops. 94% of seasonal workers in the UK are EU nationals. Travel restrictions and quarantines pose unprecedented challenges to recruitment, yet seasonal workers remain essential to ensure food security throughout the pandemic.
Between October 2020 and May 2022, Dr Roxana Barbulescu of the School of Sociology and Social Policy and Associate Director of Global Food and Environment Institute (GFEI) led the research project Feeding the Nation: Seasonal Migrant Workers and Food Security during the COVID-19 Pandemic, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
The research team included Professor Carlos Vargas-Silva from the University of Oxford’s Department of Anthropology and Dr Bethany Robertson from the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds. Impact partners included the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the charity New Europeans, artistic illustrator Sarah Hannis, and folk duo Peddler // Russell. During the pandemic, the research team worked with the Joint Committee for Vaccination to advocate for the inclusion of incoming migrant workers in the UK’s phased vaccination schedule.
The project examined the critical role of seasonal migrant workers in UK farming and food security, focusing on their lived experiences and the challenges of fair recruitment, retention, and fostering a sense of belonging under temporary visa schemes while also ensuring a sustainable UK farming sector.
The project had 6 key objectives: (1) to provide information in real time on worker recruitment and retention in order to support evidence-based rapid interventions and mitigate risks for UK the food supply; (2) to provide information to limit contagion on farms; (3) to document the experiences of seasonal workers and farmers; (4) to inform decisions on the post-Brexit immigration system in light of possible future pandemics; (5) conceptually, to contribute to theories about the high demand for migrant labour in periods of high unemployment and (6) and to debates on the contributions of low skilled migrants as key workers.
Impact and Outputs
The project generated significant impact through various outputs, including a forthcoming special issue in International Migration, a co-produced toolkit with New Europeans UK entitled Working in the UK: A Guide for Seasonal Worker Visa Holders & Those with Pre-Settled Status, and a series of online art exhibitions in collaboration with the Museum of English Rural Life. Additionally, the research inspired a co-produced folk song by Peddler // Russell, which premiered at the Sidmouth Folk Festival and was featured on BBC Farming Today.
Policy Engagement and Stakeholder Collaboration
To address entrenched social inequalities, the project engaged with key stakeholders in both government and the third sector, leading to tangible impact. The research advanced understanding of the experiences of seasonal migrant workers, particularly in the context of automation in the agricultural sector. Through the consolidation of accurate, the Working in the UK toolkit, empowered migrant workers by producing the only accessible information resources available in multiple (seven) languages, in both print and audiovisual formats (Youtube).
Furthermore, the research directly informed government decision-making, supporting evidence-based policymaking and facilitating positive change. Collaboration with key policy stakeholders was integral to the project’s success. DEFRA’s Agri-Food Supply Chain Team extensively utilised the research findings in its Evidence Base on the Use of Seasonal Migrant Labour in the Edible Horticulture Sector, developed in collaboration with the Home Office. The research contributed to a deeper understanding of workforce mobility, recruitment models, and labour shortages, particularly in relation to automation. DEFRA was actively involved throughout the project, from questionnaire design to data analysis, with sustained engagement through 16 meetings since 2021, the most recent in May 2024. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) also incorporated the research into government reports on labour shortages in the food supply chain. Similarly, the Low Pay Commission cited the research in its reports on accommodation offset and the national minimum wage for seasonal migrant workers.
The project further informed DEFRA’s Review of Automation in Horticulture, and contributed to the EFRA Select Committee’s inquiry into seasonal workers and food security, with its findings cited in the final report. Additional impact was achieved through publications by the FSA and the Low Pay Commission.
Recognition and Further Research
In recognition of its impact, the project was nominated for the Impact and Engagement Award at the University of Leeds in November 2024. Additionally, the research led to further commissioned work for the Food Standards Agency and the Low Pay Commission and ESRC Impact Accelerator.