Unique partnership for strong arable farming education
Within Akkerbouw Avonturen, BO Akkerbouw, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Boerderijeducatie Nederland (BEN) and Kom bij de Boer are joining forces. Together, they are developing professional teaching materials and practical guidelines so that arable farmers can welcome school groups in a safe and educational manner. The content of the teaching materials is tailored to primary school pupils aged 8 to 12 and covers themes such as cultivation, food chains, crop protection and food waste.
“With Akkerbouw Avonturen, we are giving children a unique opportunity to see for themselves how their food grows and what is involved. This project not only contributes to awareness of healthy and sustainable food, but also strengthens the relationship between farmers and society. In addition, we are investigating how we can better support educational farmers. We are assessing the extent to which a structural payment for arable farmers is possible and how the sector can achieve this,” says André Hoogendijk, director of BO Akkerbouw.
From soil to plate: tailored teaching materials
Experiences from earlier successful educational projects, such as Smaaklessen, were used in the development of these teaching materials. Arable farmers affiliated with Boerderijeducatie Nederland also provided valuable input by sharing teaching materials they had developed themselves. As a result, the new teaching materials not only reflect children's experiences and interests, but are also up to date, objective and practical. The lessons highlight themes that arable farmers consider important: the steps from soil to plate, the process from sowing to harvesting, and the influence of the seasons on cultivation.
An important pilot phase will begin in April 2025. During this phase, the new teaching materials will be tested at participating arable farms. The aim is to assess whether the lessons meet the wishes and expectations of both arable farmers and schools. This phase is an important step in ensuring the quality and practical applicability of the materials.
More information
Akkerbouw Avonturen is a Kennis op Maat project made possible through funding from the Topsector Agri & Food and the Topsector Horticulture & Starting Materials. More information about this project can be found on the Akkerbouw Avonturen page.
Source: BO Akkerbouw.