The poultry industry must rapidly upskill to keep pace with sweeping changes driven by automation and artificial intelligence (AI), according to a new report on the future of the English agricultural workforce.
The study, commissioned by The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH), highlights that while labour shortages persist, demand is shifting toward highly skilled roles such as data analysts, robotics technicians, and animal welfare technologists. In poultry, repetitive tasks like feeding and environmental control are increasingly handled by autonomous systems, with AI playing a growing role in flock health, disease prediction, and welfare monitoring.
However, adoption of new technologies is being slowed by a lack of technical understanding and cost concerns. The report warns that the sector’s ability to remain competitive depends on urgent investment in training, particularly in data handling and AI-supported decision-making.
To meet these demands, the report calls for more training and integration of digital skills into all levels of agricultural education.