Ag Education News
NIFA Invests 933K Dollar in Food and Agriculture Learning Program
The Food & Agriculture Service-Learning Program (FASLP) is excited to announce a near $1 million dollar investment for 4 awardees that will continue to further the mission of this innovative competitive grant program. The primary goal of the FASLP program is to increase the knowledge of agricultural science and improve the nutritional health of children. The program’s goal is to increase the capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education within host organizations or entities, such as school cafeterias and classrooms, while fostering higher levels of community engagement between farms and school systems by bringing together stakeholders from distinct parts of the food system. The initiative is part of a broader effort to not only increase access to school meals for low-income children, but also to dramatically improve their quality.
The Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program is intended to increase knowledge of agriculture and improve the nutritional health of children, and to bring together stakeholders from the distinct parts of the food system to increase the capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education within host organizations or entities, such as school cafeterias and classrooms, while fostering higher levels of community engagement between farms and school systems.
Program Purpose and Priorities
The Purpose of FASLP is to increase knowledge of agriculture and improve the nutritional health of children. The goal of these efforts is not only increasing access to school meals for underserved children, but also to dramatically improve their quality and to decrease food loss and waste through student, school and community engagement.
The Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program is also focused on the development of leadership skills, knowledge, and qualities are necessary to prepare students for food and agriculture and related careers in the private sector, government, and academia. Specific activities may include:
• Developing practical applications to increase understanding of leadership roles, including critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills; ethics and professionalism; and working in teams;
• Connecting the academic classroom experiences with daily leadership roles and organizational activities;
• Providing opportunities for mentoring and shadowing; and
• Organizing leadership academies, workshops, trainings, etc.
Credits/ Source: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/