CULTIVATING A NEW GENERATION OF TEACHERS TO CREATE RESILIENT AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

This proposed project responds to the priority areas of the AFRI program to support professional development opportunities for K-14 teachers by addressing food and agricultural sciences in (1) Plant health and production and plant products; (2) Food safety, nutrition, and health; (3) Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment; (4) Agriculture systems and technology; and (5) Agriculture economics and rural communities. Dr. Chyi-lyi Liang is the project director with 20+ years of experiences in leading experiential learning programs. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the largest 1890 Land Grant institution is leading this submission. Other partners include the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, NC Cooperative Extension, and local USDA offices. The primary training location is the Small Farm Unit at the Cherry Research Station in Goldsboro, NC, with a long history of supporting innovative specialty crop production. Thirty K-14 teachers will be selected to participate training each summer. Facilitator-to-participant ratio is 8:30. The objectives meets the PDAL program area priorities to increase the number of K-14 teachers trained in the agri-food system sciences via activities: (1) expert-guided interdisciplinary team-oriented research; (2) immersive learning, hands-on farming, curriculum development and teaching training; and (3) post-project support, coaching, and mentorship for participants. The impacts will lead to significant improvement in enrollment and retention for K-14 students to explore career opportunities in the new frontier of food and agriculture.