A New England initiative is taking the farm to the city with an innovative approach to agricultural education in schools, MP Barnaby Joyce said in a statement.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
iFarm is projected to deliver three initiatives to teach children about the key role of farming in Australia:
- Up to 80 city primary schools will host mobile farm units known as iFarm trailers, to teach students about farming, use of water, waste management and solar energy as part of a $5 million investment;
- A separate $5 million commitment will fund primary and secondary school student visits to farms and other primary production worksites, delivered through state farming bodies; and
- $220,000 will be granted to Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia to run new surveys of students and teachers on agriculture as well as hold workshops.
Steve Mansur and Kate Zlotkowski set up the iFarm trailers after seeing people from the city challenged by farming concepts and practices, and have set up a manufacturing facility in Tamworth.
READ ALSO:
Mr Joyce said it was a great outcome for our school system and the electorate.
"It's something I went into bat and fought for here in the New England and will see students across the state get a real sense of how agriculture works," Mr Joyce said.
"Because if you don't understand how the land works, you don't know how much of the money in this nation's economy is made off the back of our farmers."
The $5 million commitment to fund school visits to farms will be aimed at kids in major and regional cities across government, Catholic and independent primary and secondary school visits.
