Harvest LIVE 2022 – the world's biggest harvest festival

A picture of a group of school children stood up and spinning their arms as part of a harvest live lesson on a tv screen

School children mimic the mechanisms of a combine harvester to form part of the world's biggest combine harvester 

More than 160,000 children joined the world's biggest harvest festival, as the NFU Education team took them behind the scenes of one of farming’s biggest annual events.

Harvest LIVE, an initiative from the NFU's education team, returned to classrooms on 29 and 30 September 2022. 

Children went on an adventure through the countryside with two free, interactive live lessons delivered by our NFU Education team.

More than 2,300 primary schools took part in the free virtual lessons; they explored the fascinating journey their food takes to reach their plates, went behind the scenes of real British farms, and met the people responsible for producing their food, with the all the content linking in with the school curriculum through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) objectives.

From farm to fork

Children met and learned from farmer Hannah and took part in a nationwide science investigation. They learned first-hand how our favourite cereals and vegetables reach their plate through the amazing world of farming and food production.

This fun, hands-on experience engages pupils as well as teaching them about seasonality. It shows them how the food they eat is grown, and gives them the chance to ask the expert panel any questions they have about food and farming. 

Curriculum-linked resources are also included which teachers can use before, during and after the live lessons.

NFU President Minette Batters said: “It’s fantastic to see such a large number of schools and children with a keen appetite to learn more about where their food comes from and connecting them with the countryside; our farmed working landscape.

“Being able to show in the classroom how innovative, diverse and exciting an industry agriculture is in such a practical way gives students an amazing insight and could inspire them to think about a career in food and farming in the future.”

What was on the programme?

29 September 2022: Carrots

Aimed at children aged 7-11. Children will be stepping into the wonderful world of carrots to discover how they are grown, processed, and packed. They will take part in a nationwide science investigation and take an exclusive trip to Louise the scientist’s research field to develop their working scientifically skills and learn how farmers are using cutting-edge science and technology to fight climate change.

30 September 2022: Wheat and harvest

Aimed at children aged 5-7. Pupils are invited to meet farmer Hannah, learn all about what happens during a cereals harvest and join children from around the globe to make the world’s biggest combine harvester!

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