Food Systems Education Research Articles

Assessing Food System Attitudes Among Youth: Development and Evaluation of Attitude Measures

Objective To design and pilot a questionnaire for assessing youth attitudes about the food system. Design Nutrition educators provided important topics for food system education through a survey using the Delphi method. The resulting questionnaire of attitude scales was piloted with high school students. Setting The Delphi survey of nutrition educators was conducted through the mail and electronically. A paper and pencil questionnaire was administered to high school students in Family and Consumer Science classes. Participants Delphi participants were members of the Society for Nutrition Education’s Division of Sustainable Food Systems. A convenience sample of high school students completed the pilot questionnaire. Variables Measured Scales measured attitudes about farmland protection, participation in the local food system, hunger in the United States, organic agriculture, and environmental issues related to food. Analysis Factor analysis was used to identify constructs. The internal consistency of each resulting scale was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Results Reliability of attitude scales ranged from .59 to .73. Conclusions and Implications Attitude scales were created for the purpose of assessing youth thoughts and beliefs about the local or regional food system. Such assessments can serve as a starting point for food system educators interested in developing effective curricula on food system topics.

Community Food Systems and Planning Curricula

This article examines the teaching of food systems in U.S. planning programs. An overview of current food systems education in planning programs is provided, followed by an exploration of options for teaching community food systems in planning programs. An in-depth examination of an ongoing community food systems course provides contours for an emerging pedagogy of food system planning—one that is anchored in critical analysis of existing food and community issues and development of the skills requisite for effective participation in community food system planning.

‘Reinventing’ agricultural education for 2020 (action programme in the USA)

The world of agricultural education continues to grow more complex. We develop, disseminate and interpret more information in less time than ever before. These rapid changes require new ways of thinking, working and interacting. On January 1, 1996, in the United States of America, The National Council for Agricultural Education inaugurated „Reinventing Agricultural Education for the Year 2020” an initiative to strengthen agricultural and food systems education for the 21st Century. This project is a national effort on behalf of agricultural education, vision and strategic plan for agricultural education in the longer range future. „Reinventing Agricultural Education for the Year 2020” is a visionary planning initiative that brings together key stakeholders at the local, state, regional and national levels. These groups share their thoughts and ideas while developing concensus on what agricultural education should be in the 21st century.

1040 THE LAND GRANT IN TRANSITION – HOW DO WE GET THERE FROM HERE?

Preparing professionals that will be responsive to the food and agricultural issues of the next century presents a dilemma for current food system education programs. What will be the issues? Who will define the issues? Who are our customers? What will be the role of technology? How will we change? How will we know? While we struggle with these questions and others, the answers reside within both the faculty and the constituencies they serve.

Broadening the scope of nutrition education

To design and pilot a questionnaire for assessing youth attitudes about the food system.Nutrition educators provided important topics for food system education through a survey using the Delphi method. The resulting questionnaire of attitude scales was piloted with high school students.The Delphi survey of nutrition educators was conducted through the mail and electronically. A paper and pencil questionnaire was administered to high school students in Family and Consumer Science classes.Delphi participants were members of the Society for Nutrition Education’s Division of Sustainable Food Systems. A convenience sample of high school students completed the pilot questionnaire.Scales measured attitudes about farmland protection, participation in the local food system, hunger in the United States, organic agriculture, and environmental issues related to food.Factor analysis was used to identify constructs. The internal consistency of each resulting scale was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha.Reliability of attitude scales ranged from .59 to .73.Attitude scales were created for the purpose of assessing youth thoughts and beliefs about the local or regional food system. Such assessments can serve as a starting point for food system educators interested in developing effective curricula on food system topics.