“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – Benjamin Franklin
Good government is reflected in strong education and healthcare systems, a healthy economy, and stable food systems—all pillars that are deeply intertwined. Most Albertans do not understand the role that the agriculture industry has in each of the pillars, their lives, as well as the maintenance of secure and successful nations.
In Alberta, we are privileged in the global context; most Albertans do not question the quality or safety of their food. Unlike many regions worldwide—and even compared to our neighbors to the south—our regulatory systems, from farm to fork, ensure that safe food remains accessible on grocery shelves.
Food security is closely linked to voters’ well-being and government stability. The quality of food impacts the healthcare system by preventing life threatening outbreaks and elevating the nutritional value of products being sold. Jobs within the agriculture sector and the value of our exports shape the economy. An educated public, aware of agriculture’s role, contributes to the stability and welfare of a nation.
A growing disconnect between urban consumers and the origins of their food is concerning. There is significant lack of knowledge, along with widespread misinformation, surrounding the agriculture industry. Governments respond to public interest and public appetite and so when misinformation and misconceptions exist around agriculture the potential for disastrous policy decisions increases. – decisions that affect food systems, the product chain, and food security.
“If you can make a big impact on the global literacy problem, you can uplift a big portion of society” – Peter H. Diamandis
So, what about agriculture literacy?
In 2023-2024, Alberta had approximately 800,000 K-12 students enrolled in a structured learning environment, primarily in urban areas. This along with an increasing new Canadian population and a decreasing number of farms, this means more students and their families have extraordinarily little to no connection with the farm and may not know where or how their food is grown. Simply, there is little understanding of the agriculture industry and the supply chain.
Agriculture is Alberta’s second largest industry, and it helps buffer the booms and busts of the energy sector. Agriculture has strengthened Alberta’s economy and made it a desirable place to live; thus, agricultural education needs to be part of the conversation and in the lesson plans of all teachers across the province. Students need to gain a fundamental understanding of agriculture and have exposure, not only to where their food comes from but also to career possibilities within industry. Teachers also need to be educated and supported in bringing agriculture into the classroom and misinformation needs to be refuted.
Agricultural education needs to be entrenched in our school system. As an industry we have pushed for more agricultural studies for numerous years, through numerous channels and advocating. Alberta Canola recognizes how big of an ask and push this is – and so, let us start smaller and build, together.
We understand that the provincial government does fund smaller agricultural education initiatives and that overall, there is, you do, support to have more agricultural education in the classroom. However, the piece meal approach limits efficiency of dollars.
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