TEACHERS across Australia are about to receive new resources aimed at encouraging primary and secondary schools to introduce agriculture in the classroom - and right across the curriculum.
After the Federal Government injected $2 million of funding towards the cause earlier this month, Primary Industries Education Foundation (PEIF) and Agrifood Skills Australia have begun to develop a number of resources, including agriculture-focused online teacher support videos to use in the curriculum.
The resources will be interactive, and will comprise online multimedia tools compiled by national and international experts.
They are also expected to contain videos featuring Australian farmers discussing the technical aspects of primary production.
PIEF chair Dr Cameron Archer (pictured) was excited about the resources that had been put together so far, which he said would help to "skill up" teachers' knowledge of agriculture and entrench the resources across the curriculum - in maths, science, geography, history, physical education and even art.
He said one of the biggest barriers to implementing agriculture in the curriculum was that teachers did not possess enough confidence or knowledge about farming to use examples in the classroom.
"It will give teachers more confidence to teach in areas associated with food and fibre production with up-to-date resources, which are otherwise not easy to find," he said.
Mr Archer said the introduction of the national curriculum was expected be a big benefit to the new agriculture-focused resources, because it offered the opportunity for the units to be taken up right across Australia.
Ben Stockwin, who PEIF's executive manager, said the new resources will be trialled at 20 schools next term in both metro and regional/rural areas, with the aim to launching them officially next year.
"At least 20 schools will be involved in the trial," he said.
He said part of the project also involved the appointing of 'Prime Zone' partner schools.
"We will be identifying two schools in every state and territory to come on board," Mr Stockwin said.
"Their role will be as a 'centre of excellence' in their region - or as a 'champion' for primary industry education."
Expressions of interest to be a 'Prime Zone' partner school in the project will be taken from next month.
"The partner schools will really help to encourage adoption of the resources and embed learning about primary production in the classroom, because kids will see it in everyday lives and in school," he said.
Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce said the project would make sure students had a better understanding of the importance of farming to Australia's economy and food security.
He was concerned that many kids had never been on a farm, and possessed limited knowledge of agriculture.
"Our children need balanced information about farming so they can appreciate where food and fibre comes from and the importance of sustainable and secure agriculture for a growing world population," he said.
Dr Archer added PIEF was thankful for support from the Government, and said this level of focus had not been placed on introducing agriculture to the classroom ever before.
"I think it is a good investment on behalf of nation to do this," he said.
"It will pay dividends in the long run."