Project Grant 20267000146570

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY IS WORKING TO CONNECT STUDENTS WITH WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM, BUT MANY AGRICULTURE STUDENTS CURRENTLY LACK HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH MODERN GROWING TECHNIQUES THAT ARE BECOMING ESSENTIAL IN CURRENT AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE. AS CITIES GROW AND FARMLAND BECOMES MORE LIMITED, INNOVATIVE METHODS LIKE HYDROPONICS ALLOW FARMERS TO PRODUCE FRESH VEGETABLES USING FAR LESS WATER AND LAND WHILE INCREASING YIELDS. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THE NEED TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS AND TO HELP ALL STUDENTS UNDERSTAND HOW SUSTAINABLE, LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION CAN STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES, SUPPORT STUDENT HEALTH, REDUCE FOOD WASTE THROUGH COMPOSTING, AND IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY FOR FAMILIES IN KENTUCKY AND BEYOND. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE PROJECT WILL INSTALL THREE TYPES OF EASY-TO-USE HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS INSIDE EXISTING GREENHOUSES AT WKU'S AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER. AGRICULTURE STUDENTS WILL GROW VEGETABLES SUCH AS LETTUCE, TOMATOES, PEPPERS, AND HERBS RIGHT IN CLASS, LEARNING BY DOING AS THEY MANAGE THE SYSTEMS, SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND SUPPLY FRESH PRODUCE TO FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS. THOUSANDS OF ANNUAL VISITORS TO AREC WILL LEARN ABOUT THESE SMARTER WAYS OF GROWING FOOD. ULTIMATELY, THIS PROJECT WILL GIVE STUDENTS VALUABLE REAL-WORLD SKILLS FOR FUTURE CAREERS, INCREASE INTEREST IN AGRICULTURE AMONG YOUNG, PARTICULARLY URBAN PEOPLE, AND HELP BUILD A STRONGER CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION. BY PREPARING STUDENTS AND RAISING AWARENESS, THE PROJECT SUPPORTS HEALTHIER CAMPUSES, MORE RESILIENT LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS, AND A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR AGRICULTURE IN A CHANGING WORLD.