Funding needed to help education program support students’ understanding of horticulture and agriculture sectors

Claire Halliday
Founder of VEG Education Catherine Velisha says the program's growth has helped break down stereotypes of working in agriculture and horticulture.

There are calls for funding to be extended for a successful Victorian Horticulture Education program as it reaches a milestone of 5000 students in just three years of operation. 

But with Agriculture Victoria funding for the initiative set to end this July, the Farm Gate program, hosted by VEG Education, may have to move to a fee-for-service model to continue.

It’s a possibility the operators are hoping to avoid – prompting them to call on ongoing investment to ensure the program remains accessible to all schools, with hopes of expanding nationally. 

The program, says VEG Education founder Catherine Velisha, addresses two major national concerns – the declining level of children’s consumption of vegetables and the growing skills gaps in the country’s agriculture and horticulture sectors. 

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Ms Velisha told EducationDaily the program has moved “from strength to strength” over the last three years – from changing the way children view their nutrition to breaking down stereotypes of working in Agriculture and Horticulture and broadening students’ horizons in the space. 

Students show gaps in basic nutrition-related knowledge, including naming vegetables

She says surveys of participating students have identified serious knowledge gaps – particularly when it comes to where their food comes from and being able to name basic everyday vegetables. 

The potential funding shortfall stress comes as the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) consumption data found only one in 20 Australian children (4.6 per cent) met the recommended amount of daily vegetable intake. 

According to that 2022 data, fewer children aged 2–17 years met the fruit and vegetable recommendations compared to in 2017–18.  With just 4.6 per cent of Australian children meeting the vegetable intake recommendation, the figures reveal a decline – from 6.3 per cent in 2017–18. Only 4.3 per cent met both fruit and vegetable recommendations, a decrease from 6.0 per cent in 2017–18.

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In response, Ms Velisha believes it is “vitally important for us to help young people fall in love with vegetables”.

“The motivation behind the VEG Education Farm Gate program was driven by a desire to bridge the gap between education and practical, real-world applications in the field of agriculture,” she told EducationDaily.

“We recognised a significant disconnect between young people’s understanding of where their food comes from and the vast array of career opportunities within the horticulture industry. We wanted to inspire a new generation of students to explore and consider careers in agriculture by providing hands-on, engaging educational experiences. Additionally, we aimed to promote the importance of healthy eating by increasing students’ consumption of fruits and vegetables, instilling lifelong habits that benefit both their health and the environment.”

By increasing exposure and awareness of where food comes from, as well as knowledge about supply chains and the promotion of the diversity of career opportunities in the horticulture sector, Ms Velisha says the program also aims to give Australian school children a sense of the available career pathways in the vital sectors.

Challenging perceptions about work opportunities within agricultural sector

For the secondary schools involved in the educational program, Ms Velisha says 85 per cent of surveyed students stated that the program positively changed their perceptions about working in the agriculture sector.

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But without financial support from partners, such as Agriculture Victoria, that enables the program to provide resources and materials for students, as well as subsidise costs for farm visits and practical sessions, Ms Velisha says the program’s ability to reduce the cost barrier to the schools who enjoy access to the program “would potentially be put at risk – or at the very least the amount of schools able to bring students to the program be impacted”.

It’s a prospect Ms Velisha is concerned about. She says the VEG Education Farm Gate program is crucial because it provides firsthand experience of farming practices, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, and encourages students to consider careers in horticulture and agriculture by showcasing the industry’s diversity and potential.

“It also helps to dispel myths about agriculture being an outdated or uninteresting field by highlighting modern, innovative practices and technologies,” she told EducationDaily, adding that the program’s aim to increase consumption of fruit and vegetables in young people is “crucial for fostering lifelong healthy eating habits and combating diet-related health issues.”

Smashing stereotypes to spark interest in a dynamic, tech-driven industry

Career opportunities are also recognised, Ms Velisha says, with students better able to “see the wide array of career paths available – many of which they might not have previously considered”.

“Breaking stereotypes demonstrates that horticulture is a dynamic, technology-driven industry with opportunities for innovation and growth,” says Ms Velisha.

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Once a stable and sustainable funding model that allows VEG Education Farm Gate program to plan and execute long-term initiatives without the uncertainty of financial constraints is established, Ms Velisha says the plan is to “extend our programs to more schools and regions, ensuring that even more students have the opportunity to benefit from our offerings”.

Her commitment to “continuously update and improve our curriculum to incorporate the latest advancements in technology and sustainable practices”, as well as “build even stronger relationships with industry leaders will help ensure the organisation is focused on enhancing the “quality and impact of our programs”.

“The educational benefits of our Farm Gate Program are diverse,” Ms Velisha told EducationDaily.

“Not only is it a fun and a hugely memorable time, but there are also constant opportunities for students to expand their own individual tacit knowledge crucial to higher level learning and problem-solving skills.  Programs are aligned to the curriculum, targeting Design Technologies, specifically technology contexts of food and fibre production and food specialisations.”

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Claire Halliday has an extensive career as a full-time writer - across book publishing, copywriting, podcasting and feature journalism - for more than 25 years. She lives in Melbourne with children, two border collies and a grumpy Burmese cat. Contact: claire.halliday[at]educationdaily.au