Cane in the classroom

Taking the sugarcane story to schools

From school visits for National Agriculture Day to the launch of a teachers’ resource, November has seen a focus on education at CANEGROWERS.

A Gordonvale cane farm provided the backdrop for the launch of a new curriculum-aligned teaching resource on the sugarcane industry. Called One Plant, Many Products, the resource was developed through the CANEGROWERS membership of the Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) and is ready for teachers and students to access through the Primezone website.

“We know that schools and teachers are expected to meet the requirements of the national curriculum which is why we have worked so hard with PIEFA to design this resource to be ready-made to do that while also including industry insights,” CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan said.

“Through lesson plans incorporating video and other resources like worksheets, the new package tells the story of sugarcane from the paddock to the packet and the many other possible uses of sugarcane are explored.”

“This new CANEGROWERS resource targets years 5 to 8 science, design and technology and geography curricula with a fantastic introduction to cane production, milling, sugar production and value-adding of the product,” PIEFA CEO Luciano Mesiti said.

CANEGROWERS is keen for the resource to also spark interest in the many and varied careers agriculture can offer, fitting in nicely with the focus for National Agriculture Day on 19 November (known as #AgDay) and its theme of Choose Your #AgVenture.

CANEGROWERS took up the challenge and with the assistance of Cairns Region grower Luke Calcagno, CANEGROWERS Isis manager Angela Williams, and Sugar Research Australia’s Phil Patane, made a careers information video.

The three participants answered questions about their day-today work, how they got into their roles, and their view of the future of agriculture and the sugarcane industry in particular. The inspiring video was shared across social media on #AgDay.

Its reach and impact will continue well into the future as it is listed as a resource in a range of school platforms and is available via the CANEGROWERS website and YouTube channel.

Careers in agriculture was the theme for a visit by six growers to Home Hill State High School. CANEGROWERS Burdekin Chairman Phil Marano said the board members talked to Year 7 and 11 students.

“We explained our roles in the sugarcane industry and it was also important to talk to students about the opportunities for them in cane growing and agriculture in general,” Phil said. “It’s not just about growing cane but also about science and agronomy.

“The students were interested in new products and directions for the industry into bio-products and asked questions about haulout and harvester driving.

“Our other motivation was to try to help people understand the importance of cane growing in our district, for the economy and jobs.”

“It was important to talk to students about the opportunities for them in cane growing and agriculture in general.”

Rocky Point growers Janette and David Keith accepted an invitation to join an agriculture expo at the nearby Calvary Christian College. Janette said more than 150 students visited their stand. David demonstrated cutting cane with knife. A video and wooden models showed the modern method of harvesting and other farm activities.

“Feedback after the event was that children went home and showed parents the information they’d received at the talk,” Janette said.

If a school was too far from the farms they were interested in, PIEFA set up a platform and timetable of virtual visits. PIEFA facilitated a Farmer Time program for #AgDay linking schools with farmers.

Producers across a wide range of industries participated including mushrooms, avocados, pork, cotton, vegetables and sugarcane. The cane session was hosted by Herbert River growers Zenan Reinaudo and Paul Marbelli who shared their knowledge and passion for the industry.

Linked by video conference to three schools in Sydney, another in regional New South Wales and one in regional Queensland, they gave a comprehensive presentation about cane growing, the use of technology, their career journeys and the range of roles available in the sugar industry.

The session was recorded and is now available on the PIEFA YouTube channel for many more schools to access.

The PIEFA school resource on sugarcane was launched with the help of Desley and John Ferrando and their granddaughter Sofie and CANEGROWERSCEO Dan Galligan;

Janette Keith from Rocky Point, pictured above, enjoyed sharing the passion of growing cane with students at the Calvary Christian CollegeExpo.