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Agricultural Education

WHEREAS,
the world population is predicted to reach nine (9) billion in the next 40 years, and is estimated to include growth of the worldwide middle class by three (3) billion people, who will demand 60 percent more meat, milk and eggs than are produced today; and

WHEREAS, an increased supply of human capital is required to fill the 54,400 annual employment opportunities in the areas of Food, Renewable Energy and the Environment from now through 2015; and

WHEREAS, today’s high-tech Agricultural Science Education curricula is infused with rigorous academics, including STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) components, all critical to ensure global competitiveness, student achievement and well-prepared graduates for over 300 distinct careers in agriculture, food and natural resources industries; and

WHEREAS, at least 19 New Jersey high school districts have Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE)-certified agriculture teachers and are implementing the CASE program, which offers academically infused agriculture courses that may be articulated for college credits at two- and/or four-year institutions; and

WHEREAS, Rutgers University, Delaware Valley College and several county colleges have established articulation agreements with high school agriculture programs to offer college credit for CASE courses; and

WHEREAS, Rutgers University has partnered with Woodstown High School to host a 2014 CASE Institute (teacher professional development) for the CASE field test course in Food Service and Safety; and

WHEREAS, local agriculture programs are faced with student recruitment issues due to the fact that agriculture often is an elective course and because there is a general lack of knowledge and understanding about global food supply/food security issues.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the delegates to the 99th State Agricultural Convention, assembled in Atlantic City, New Jersey on February 5-7, 2014, support increased marketing and education about global agriculture demands; increased marketing of New Jersey’s high-tech agricultural science programs at the secondary level; and increased communications about demand for agriculture graduates.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we support continuing a strong and viable Agricultural Education program in New Jersey through a continuing interagency agreement between the New Jersey Department of Education and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture; support continual improvement of resources and services to all New Jersey Agricultural Education programs at the middle, secondary and post-secondary levels; support the development of new and updated local programs of Agricultural Education through the implementation of the CASE programs; and support pre- and in-service professional development programs for agriculture teachers by Rutgers, the State University.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that today’s high-tech Agricultural Science Education programs emphasize the science, business and technology of agriculture and increasing the numbers of students in agricultural career pathways, which can help positively impact the production, processing and marketing of more food, fiber and fuel to meet the global need for 2050 and beyond.