The Role of Education in the Future of Agriculture

Today, when facing challenges associated with food insecurity, climate change, and sustainable development, education will play a major role in the future of agriculture. From implementing new technologies to promoting sustainable practices, education is the backbone behind people making advancements to ensure we have food, our environment stays healthy, and the economy continues to grow. Education will be the key as we unfold the future of agriculture.

Agriculture And Our Future

By 2050, there will be 9 billion mouths to feed worldwide. However, due to urban expansion and problems caused by climate change, agricultural land is suffering reductions. That is why sustainable agriculture is vital to our future.

Benefits of Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture is a continuous learning process. Farmers and others need to change their methods to reduce their role in harming the environment. At the same time, they need to ramp up food production. This is where sustainable agriculture enters the picture.

There are many benefits to sustainable agriculture. One benefit is the reduction of fuel consumption by planting more perennials. Using crops that come up each year reduces the amount of machinery used. No-tilling farming is a technique that enables the needed carbon in the soil instead of releasing it into the environment. Reducing the number of chemicals and fertilizers to kill pests and weeds through crop rotation is also a benefit. The best part about these practices is they are inexpensive to implement. Farmers in the United States and developing nations worldwide can do it.

Education And The Future Of Agriculture

Agriculture has a long history in the United States, filled with ups and downs. In the 1800s, agricultural education was part of most people’s daily lives. Children raised on farms. The school calendar revolved around the farming schedule. Children did not attend school in the fall and spring because they worked on their families’ farms.

Throughout the early years, the emphasis on agricultural education began to decline. By the 1920s, it was no longer part of the educational curriculum. It did not return to the classroom until 40 years later. Schools began receiving new materials. The United States Department of Agriculture started to help schools create programs relevant to their communities in the early 1980s.

Why Is It Important?

If we do not take the time to teach today’s children about agriculture, what happens to future generations? Teaching children where their food comes from leads to self-awareness.

My teaching children how to grow a vegetable garden or raise chickens for eggs gives them a sense of power. They may not stop the problem of food insecurity, but they can do something to ensure that their families have food.

How do future farmers learn about agriculture jobs if they do not know they exist? Securing the next generation of agriculturalists is necessary. If there are not enough farmers and others within the industry, the price of food will soar. Education is needed to continue to keep food costs reasonable.

Our economy depends on agriculture. The agriculture industry plays a role in sustaining our economy. The more people understand how the industry works and how to maintain it, the more it will continue to benefit our economy.

Learning About Sustainability Is Not Just For Kids

Educating children on agriculture and sustainability is vital to our planet’s future. However, adults can certainly do their share, too. Major changes do not have to happen all at once. Start with some simple changes. For example, stop using single-use plastics. Instead, purchase reusable water bottles, coffee cups, bags, and reused plates and utensils. One reusable water stops approximately 1500 plastic bottles from being tossed away.

Recycling is a fun way to get the whole family involved. Check locally for recycling centers. Consider upcycling; it can lead to a lot of fun. For example, an empty paper towel tube can be the start of a caterpillar art project.

Conserve Water And Energy

Simple things like washing full loads of laundry, turning lights off, unplugging stuff, and adjusting the thermostat can help to conserve energy. It can save you money, too. To conserve water, take shorter showers and turn off the water when shaving and brushing your teeth.