This paper describes how approaches espousing experiential education principles are adopted by farmer-educators to contextualise farmers' learning and achievement of innovative farming practices. The study used qualitative case study methods of interviews, observations, and document review. Through purposive sampling techniques, twelve…

This study examines farming practices across regions as "funds of knowledge" that may be integrated into K-12 curricula and instruction. "Funds of knowledge," as conceptualized by Moll, Amanti, Neff, and González (1992), include the knowledge students bring from their families and home communities to the classroom, and serve as…

This study explores the human dimensions of the broad-based adoption of Short Rotation Woody Crops (SRWCs) among farmers in North Carolina. We used an actor diagramming and tracing approach to explore factors influencing farmers' adoption of SRWCs. Results suggest four factors strongly influence the adoption process: (1) market availability; (2)…

A "virtual farm" website with science-based information about dairy sustainability topics was created for a variety of audiences. A key structure of the website is layering of information. At the most frequently used entry level, a site visitor explores by looking and learning. As interest evolves, the visitor finds links to technical…

This paper presents an experimental lab designed for undergraduate students which focuses on soil science and chemistry. Students perform a series of tests to classify soil's phosphate retaining characteristics, texture, pH, organic matter content, and permeability with the addition of a novel soil amendment, Al Mg biochar. This lab has minimal…

Technology use in agriculture or "AgTech" (Agricultural Technology), is rapidly changing conventional farming practices and decision-making processes. To ensure the industry can successfully harness the power of AgTech, digital skill development of workers is crucial. This can be achieved by adequate education of the future workforce,…

Purpose: To advance the discussion of retro-innovation and highlight the implications this has for the provision of agricultural advice and the role of advisors. Design/Methodology/Approach: 70 interviews with farmers and 10 interviews with experts on biological pest control and direct marketing in Latvia were conducted. Findings: Biological pest…

The aim of this article is to direct the social design debate to constructivist approaches to design education in the Global South. This article provides insight into the process of participatory user-centred design involving Ecuadorian third year graphic design students and cocoa cultivators of limited resources in Ecuador. The students and…

This article sheds light on how non-formal education was used as a tool to provide knowledge and skills for Manyeledi community members who are engaged in subsistence farming, to improve their crop yield. Manyeledi is a rural village in the North-West province, which, like most rural areas, is experiencing environmental degradation caused by the…

Many of the agricultural literacies engendering twentieth-century farming practices and shaping contemporary concepts of food and nutrition in the United States arose through scientific research at land-grant colleges. This article examines how those literacies reached and interacted with local communities through institutional entities such as…

Trends in climate change, agricultural practices and research needs have indicated many open questions that require clarification, particularly regarding the contribution of psychological variables in shaping student attitudes towards rural practices. This empirical study adds to the literature on agricultural education and rural development by…

Long-term impacts of an urban farming youth internship were evaluated in Brooklyn, New York. Alumni surveyed 1 to 9 years after program completion were enrolled in college or graduate school at higher rates than their peers and reported connections to the environment and healthy eating. Participants reported learning job skills through the…

Improving student competencies to address sustainability challenges has been a subject of significant debate in higher education. Problem- and project-based learning have been widely celebrated as course models that support the development of sustainability competencies. This paper describes a course developed for a professional Master's program…

Purpose: This article explores how voluntary certifications influence the way cooperatives provide advisory services to their members and the influence of these services on agricultural practices. Design/Methodology/Approach: Case studies were conducted in four representative Costa Rican cooperatives interviewing twenty interviewed cooperative…

Purpose: This study aims at investigating how digitalisation (in the sense of industry 4.0) has changed the work of farmers and how they experience the changes from more traditional work to digitalised agriculture. It also investigates what knowledge farmers require on digitalised farms and how they acquire it. Dairy farming was used as domain of…