Preparing Future Green Professionals Through Tarheel Agricultural Education

摘要

The great 19th century poet and philosopher Henry David Thoreau once wrote, "What's the use of a fine house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?" This statement holds many implications for agricultural education as a whole. When one considers the deep connection between the environment and agriculture, and the demands placed upon the environment by agricultural practices, it is imperative that agricultural education promotes agricultural literacy in order to ensure that society, both consumers and producers, make informed decisions about the wise use of the earth's natural resources. Given the emphasis placed upon "green" initiatives and healthy living today, 21st century agricultural education must have an increased emphasis upon the "green" side of the agricultural sciences in the curricula.