Agribusiness companies are getting behind an initiative to get high school students involved in a career in gumboots.

From 2016, the subject will be offered to students in seven rural and city schools.

The project has been led St Paul's Collegiate in Hamilton, which is hosting a primary industries summit this week.

Waikato Milking Systems has been involved from early on.

CEO Dean Bell says the agricultural sector needs about ten times as many graduates as it's currently getting.

"The reason we're supporting this programme with St Paul's Collegiate is to show kids from all backgrounds there are just a massive amount of opportunities here that are quite separate than what you would imagine just at a traditional farm level."