A national group has met in Perth to discuss a path forward in educating a generation of children about where their food comes from.
The Primary Industries Education Foundation (PIEF) is committed to improve teaching and learning about primary industries in Australian schools.
The Perth workshop was organised by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
PIEF Interim Chief Executive Officer Ben Stockwin is in Western Australia to raise awareness of PIEF and develop better connections between primary industries, government and the education and community sectors.
“I have been involved with workshops over the past few months in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland,” Mr Stockwin said.
“The establishment of a state-based network is critical to support initiatives in the state and to provide continual guidance to the national body.
“Food security is set to become a major issue globally over the next few decades. We will need to find smarter ways to produce our food, and use our water and energy resources sustainably, while tackling environmental issues and a changing climate.
“We need to raise awareness through the education system of how natural resources are managed and safe, high-quality food is delivered.”
The department’s Education Initiative project manager Kerry Regan said the department was committed to supporting primary industries education in WA.
“The establishment of PIEF has coincided with a department program supporting secondary and tertiary education in WA,” she said.
“Hopefully, the emphasis on education will help improve student and community awareness of where our food comes from, the importance of primary industries and the wide range of career opportunities.”
