Farmers welcome education funding

The Federal Government’s commitment of $225,000 over three years to the Primary Industries Education Foundation (PIEF) has been welcomed today by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF).
NFF CEO Matt Linnegar said the announcement provides surety for the PIEF in delivering food and fibre education programs to primary and high school children across the country.
“Research by PIEF in March found that 75 percent of children thought cotton was an animal product and 27 percent thought yoghurt was a plant product,” Mr Linnegar said.
“This clearly shows that more needs to be done to help children understand where food and fibre comes from – exactly why the PIEF exists.
“This funding, which the NFF lobbied for in our submission to the Federal Government’s Budget, will allow the PIEF to progress their work in ensuring agriculture is factored into the national curriculum.
“It will also assist PIEF to continue developing a suite of stimulating, factual and educationally-relevant materials to help school children learn about Australia’s farmers and the food and fibre we grow.
“We’re very pleased to see that the Government has listened to the concerns of industry, and has continued its commitment to this important program,” Mr Linnegar said.
The NFF is a founding member of PIEF, and was one of the driving forces behind its creation. The NFF helped bring together agricultural groups, educators, peak bodies and the Australian Government to pioneer the PIEF, meeting the educational needs of schools, teachers and students.
The NFF continues to play an important role in addressing the ever-growing issues of agricultural education, skills, training and labour shortages facing the sector; bringing together all organisations involved in this area, including PIEF, to create a whole of industry approach.
Following a successful Industry Roundtable in February this year, the NFF is hosting an Agricultural Education, Skills and Training working group meeting in Canberra next Monday, 14 May.