By Dianne Murray, Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia

Australia’s horticulture industry stands at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and community wellbeing, and the Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA)is playing a leading role in ensuring the next generation is equipped with essential knowledge about food and fibre education.

With this vision in mind, PIEFA, in partnership with Hort Innovation, is spearheading a Vegetable High School Education Resources project, and guiding VEG Education in the delivery of its key components.

This initiative is set to deliver curriculum-aligned resources for students in Years 7 to 10, focusing on vegetable production, nutrition, and career opportunities within the horticulture sector. Through collaboration with VEG Education and Think Digital, this ambitious project will transform how students and teachers connect with the vegetable industry.

Bridging classroom challenges with real-world insights

To address the challenges of integrating industry-specific content into classrooms, PIEFA aims to close the gap in accessible, engaging, and curriculum-compliant materials.

Educators often face barriers when teaching about vegetable production, sustainable agriculture, and nutrition due to a lack of relevant resources. By creating engaging content, the project seeks to foster informed food choices among students, promote healthy eating habits, and inspire interest in the diverse career opportunities within horticulture—from innovation and technology to problem-solving and sustainability.

Developing resources for maximum impact

A core component of the project is the development of Australian curriculum-aligned resources for Years 7 to 10, covering subjects such as science, design and technologies, geography, and health and physical education. These resources will help students understand vegetable production, nutrition, and career pathways, while empowering teachers with professional development tools like pre-recorded webinars and in-person sessions.

PIEFA’s leadership has driven significant progress during the project’s initial phase, ensuring alignment with both industry needs and curriculum standards. A teacher needs survey, conducted to gather insights into classroom requirements, has provided valuable data to guide resource development.

This consultation process has been bolstered by a teacher reference group comprising educational leaders from across Australia. Their feedback is shaping the curriculum alignment, ensuring that the resources are practical, effective, and meet the diverse needs of schools nationwide.

Bringing learning to life with virtual reality

Meanwhile, Think Digital is collaborating with PIEFA to take vegetable education to the next level by developing an innovative virtual reality (VR) farm tour, guided by PIEFA’s strategic direction.

Designed to immerse students in the world of vegetable production, the VR experience offers a dynamic way to explore supply chain processes and understand the challenges and innovations within the industry. Site visits to Dicky Bill’s production facility in Victoria have already informed draft scripts, with filming scheduled to take place soon.

Looking ahead: 2025 and beyond

Looking ahead, 2025 will see the finalisation of resources and the rollout of professional development initiatives for teachers. Three pre-recorded webinars will complement the in-person training provided by VEG Education, equipping educators with the skills and knowledge to maximise the impact of these new materials. Additionally, a ‘Fresh Food Schools’ centralised online platform will house the resources, ensuring they are accessible to teachers across Australia.

The virtual reality farm tour is also expected to launch, offering an innovative tool to enhance classroom engagement and understanding of vegetable production.

Monitoring and evaluation strategies will assess the project’s effectiveness, focusing on enhancing teacher and student knowledge, encouraging healthy eating habits, and promoting career opportunities within the vegetable production sector.

Staying connected with the project

For educators, growers, and stakeholders eager to learn more, PIEFA’s flagship website, Primezone at primezone.edu.au, is the go-to source for updates, newsletters, and access to resources as they become available.

A lasting legacy in horticulture education

Through its leadership in developing resources that bridge the gap between Australia’s vegetable industry and the classroom, PIEFA is empowering a new generation of informed consumers and potential industry leaders, while strengthening the vegetable industry’s role in education.

Through innovative tools like curriculum-aligned materials and virtual reality tours, the Vegetable High School Education Resources project is setting a new benchmark in food and fibre education. With continued collaboration and stakeholder engagement, this initiative promises a lasting impact on Australian education and the horticulture sector.