Using problem-based learning to teach Ag-STEM and inspire the next generation of food animal scientists 

A fifth grader today will graduate from college in 2030. This is around the time that at least 4 private companies as well as NASA, Roscosmos, and the China National Space Administration plan to land the first humans on Mars. Elementary and middle school students today will see some of the most profound changes in food production since the invention of agriculture. Over the course of their careers, there will almost certainly be permanent colonies of humans living on other planets. They will see the global human population begin to reach its predicted plateau of approximately 11 billion people. They will also see the greatest overall increase in global wealth and standards of living. All of these changes pose tremendous challenges for food production and will require new and innovative solutions. Solutions that many of us alive today could never imagine, but if the US is going to meet these challenges we need to inspire future food producers and scientists so they are prepared to lead.

USDA-NIFA 2019-68010-29117