BRITAIN'S biggest trade union has signed an agreement to tackle skills shortages in rural and agricultural industries.

The partnership with Lantra Sector Skills Council will give the 16,000 members of the rural, agricultural and allied workers group of the Unite Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) better access to training.

Lantra chairman Dr Gordon McGlone said it would help land-based and environmental businesses to face the many demands placed on them, such as environmental enhancement, animal welfare, specialist heritage skills requirements and biodiversity.

Miles Hubbard, T&G's regional industrial organiser, said: "We have to train people to adapt to new ways of doing things and to explore sustainable food production."