National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes

Theme 1: Agriculture and the Environment

Agriculture has transformed and had to work with natural ecosystems to fulfill societal needs. Agro-ecosystems are now recognized as a major part of global ecosystems. To understand the processes and components, and the dependence and interactions of organisms and environment in natural systems, is to understand the dynamics of agricultural systems.

Agriculture and natural resource management is a science-based human activity subject to divergence of opinions and public policies influencing the development and application of science and technology for the public good. Inputs and outputs of modern agriculture and food industries involve many technologies based on both public and private research and development. Theme 1 examines the relationship between agriculture and the environment.

Theme 2: Plants and Animals for Food, Fiber & Energy

Early humans developed agriculture as an alternative to hunting and gathering. This transition not only began to free up labor but resulted in surpluses of various goods, which could, in turn, be traded. Since the domestication and cultivation of plants, and the domestication and raising of animals (agriculture), humans have been experimenting with genetics, types of soils, climate, production practices, and harvesting to meet the needs of a growing population.

Agriculture provides the food supply needed for survival, growth, and health for both humans and animals. The variety of year-round food choices has grown; foods not locally produced are available partly due to the transportation and distribution networks. The major factors in food and feed choices for people and their animals are cost, culture, convenience, and access and/or availability.

Theme 2 focuses on the importance and stewardship of natural resources in sustainably delivering high quality food, fiber, and energy while at the same time maintaining a quality environment.

Theme 3: Food, Health & Lifestyle

Healthful eating means eating a variety of nutritious foods. Food contains six nutrients that people need for good health. These nutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, and water. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) makes general recommendations about what people should eat. The USDA’s “My Plate” features a dinner plate divided into four sections: fruits, grains, vegetables, and protein, with dairy pictured as a glass alongside the plate. Vegetables and grains have the largest recommended daily serving size, and proteins and fruits are slightly smaller in serving size, along with dairy.

Farmers and ranchers provide a variety of year-round food choices. Foods not locally produced are available partly due to the transportation and distribution networks. The major factors in food choices have been cost, culture, convenience, and access and/or availability. Advertisements are another form of information that guide food choices. Recently, Americans have become more interested in how food is produced, its nutritional value, agriculture’s impact on the environment, and the contribution agriculture makes to the local economy and landscape.

Consumer demand ultimately influences what is produced and how it is processed and marketed. The U.S. food supply is considered the safest in the world. Still, food safety issues exist in the U.S. and abroad. According to food safety experts, improper storage, handling, and preparation of food—both at home and at food establishments—pose the top food safety problems today. Everyone who handles food in any form should know the basic safe food-handling practices. Safety concerns include microbiological contamination and non-living contaminates such as drug and pesticide residues and bone fragments. Contamination can occur during any step of food processing, storage, or handling of food products. The USDA regulates food processors and also provides consumer guidelines for safe handling, preparation, and storage of foods. Theme 3 explores the relationship between food production, storage, preparation, consumption, and health.

Theme 4: Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

According to most historians, the development of agriculture resulted in the beginning of civilization. Agricultural development has relied on evolving scientific understandings, engineering processes, and the application of both to develop innovative technologies to save labor and increase yields. In the early 1900s, 50% of the U.S. population lived in rural areas, and 30% made their living on the farm (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2014). Technological advancements of the last century have resulted in a nation where just over 1% (Central Intelligence Agency, 2013) of the population make their living on farms and ranches. It may seem that we no longer need to consider agricultural careers as important or relevant; however, it takes 21 million workers, or about 15% of the U.S. population, to support farm and ranch production, processing, and marketing (Goecker, Smith, Smith, & Goetz, 2010). The fact that 1% of the population produces for the other 99% is a real achievement! What has happened to cause this change in 100 years? Science, technology, engineering and mathematical understandings to address labor, and solve production and environmental problems.

The science and technologies applied to agriculture and food rival the science and technologies applied to medicine. Agriculture is the “other” major health science—applying science, engineering, technology, and mathematics to improve the health of plants and animals, of people, and our environment. The fields of mechanical engineering, microbiology, genetics, and chemistry have their origins intrinsically linked with agriculture and food, and while we have fewer people working on farms, the 21 million workers that support agricultural production include scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

Our quality of life is dependent upon the continued development and appropriate use of science and engineering to provide an abundance of safe, healthy, nutritious food, fibers, and the fuels necessary to sustain the needs of a growing world population. At the same time, we need to sustain the natural resource base of this planet—on which all life depends! While yields and labor-saving technologies remain important, future agricultural scientists and engineers will need to solve additional problems that will lead to a more sustainable agricultural system that feeds a growing population. Theme 4, understanding the science, engineering, technology, and mathematics of agriculture, food, and natural resources is crucial for the future of all humanity.

Theme 5: Culture, Society, Economy & Geography

Agriculture and natural resource systems have played a key role in the development of the United States and the sustainability of civilizations throughout the history of the world. Agriculture changed from hunting and gathering to forms of permanent agriculture, which in turn led the way for expansion of agricultural production and the integration of new technologies. Producing, processing, marketing, and distributing food, fuel, clothing, and shelter have been the work of most of humanity through the ages to ensure survival.

Largely, geographic location (longitude, latitude, elevation, soil type and precipitation) determines what plants and animals will grow and, therefore, determines what humans and animals will generally eat, what materials will be available for building shelters, making clothing, and providing fuel. As a result, distinct diets emerge for people living in different places in the world. Religion and other customs have further guided people’s food choices, language, dress, festivals, and artistic expressions, which we often refer to as culture.

As productivity of agriculture increased through the application of science and technology, global trade of agricultural products expanded, which led to the development of more industrialized societies. Also, changes in the demand for agricultural workers from production (farming) to science, processing, and related agri-businesses resulted. Today, food, fiber, and fuel are traded globally, and often products travel thousands of miles from where they were produced to where they are consumed.

The global movement of agricultural products continues to be driven by economics, and consumer demand and preferences. Agriculture, food, and natural resource systems continue to play an integral role in the evolution of societies both in the United States and the world.

In an effort to capture the essential constructs of agricultural literacy, researchers, practitioners, and government officials met in 2013 to develop a National Agricultural Literacy Logic Model. This model was created to support a revised understanding of an agriculturally literate person as “A person who understands and can communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our quality of life”. This definition, alongside previously developed frameworks, was instrumental in shaping the NALOs.

A synthesis of influential research and established agricultural literacy frameworks led to the development of five primary themes. The NALOs were organized according to these themes, with benchmarks for each grade level (K-12), aligned with national education standards. The outcomes were reviewed by stakeholders and members of the National Agriculture in the Classroom Curriculum Matrix Committee, who evaluated each outcome for its relevance to agricultural literacy and appropriateness for various grade levels.