Croatian schools are doing a great job teaching students about food, with many programs focused on healthy eating, reducing food waste, and sustainability. Those projects are helping students understand the importance of food in our lives. However, there’s a big gap when it comes to talking about careers in the agro-food sector.
The agro-food industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors globally. It includes everything from farming and food processing to research, sustainability, and distribution. Despite its importance, many students in Croatia don’t see it as a potential career path. This is partly because they aren’t sure what working in this industry actually means, and partly because it’s not highlighted in their education.
Several factors contribute to this gap. The agro-food sector is often seen as traditional and less exciting compared to fields like technology or finance. This perception overlooks the many innovations happening in agricultural technology and food science. Additionally, most educational programs focus more on what we eat and how we manage food waste, rather than on the jobs that make our food system work.
How Food Educators help students discover new careers?
To address this, Food Educators has created a Lesson Plan focused on careers in the agro-food sector. The goal is to show students the variety of jobs available in this industry, many of which they might not even know exist.
The lesson, called “Food Career Guessing Game”is designed for students aged 12-18. It introduces them to different, often overlooked, careers in the industry.
These roles go beyond the usual jobs and include:
- Food Quality Controller: Ensuring food products are safe and meet quality standards.
- Environmental Manager: Working to make food production more sustainable.
- Food Historian: Studying how food has shaped cultures and societies.
- Food Stylist: Making food look appealing for media and marketing.
The lesson plan is interactive. It starts with a discussion about what students already know about careers in agro-food. Then, students participate in a guessing game where they learn about different careers by asking each other questions. This activity helps make the careers more relatable and easier to understand.
By the end of the lesson, students have a better understanding of the many career options in the agro-food sector and how these roles contribute to the industry.
The importance of AgriFood Careers
Adding career education to food-related programs is important because it opens students’ eyes to new possibilities. As the global population grows, the need for innovation in food production and sustainability will only increase. Educating students about these careers helps prepare them to meet these future challenges.
Highlighting these less-known careers also helps to change the perception of the agro-food sector as old-fashioned. It shows students that working in this industry can be dynamic, creative, and impactful.
Conclusion
To fully prepare students for the future of work, it’s important to talk about careers in the agro-food sector. By integrating these lessons into the school curriculum, we can inspire students to explore, innovate, and lead in a sector that’s vital to our economy and the future of our planet.
Visit our website, register and download our lesson plan.
