Career Change Into Farming: The Scope and Limits of a Farming Degree for New Entrants in Agriculture

ABSTRACT Generational renewal in agriculture has become a pressing issue in most post‐industrial countries, even as some people from other careers seek to enter farming. Such people had little formal agricultural training in the past, but today their careers may be facilitated by public centres for agricultural training. This article presents findings from a mixed methods study heavily reliant on a relational approach in a public training centre, using the concept of educational capital to study a farming degree as a condition of success for new entrants in agriculture. Findings highlight that educational capital is now a resource for entering agriculture mid‐career. Aspiring farmers’ initial educational certifications and skills were found to be determinant in access to formal training. The study shows that although the value of such degrees is still uncertain with actors in conventional farming, it has become important to local governments and organic farming networks. Last, it demonstrates that formal training is an ‘institution of change’ offering a bridge into farming from other paths.