The program offers a fresh look at the expansion and diversification of existing agricultural industries through the emerging bioenergy and bioproducts industries and introduces science, technology, engineering and math skill examples. Hands-on engagement activities and materials provide agriculture educators new tools and topics for use in the classroom. Several of the lab projects can be scaled up to the field or greenhouse operation level.
Our curriculum brings agricultural sciences exercises and extension ideas into the following eight focus areas relating the emerging Bioeconomy workforce skills in these job sectors:
- Sustainability
- Systems Thinking
- Biomass production and logistics
- Liquid Biofuels (transportation)
- Biomass for heat (warmth)
- BioPower (electricity)
- BioProducts (industrial chemicals and natural products)
- Environmental Impacts, Policy & Economics
Careers in the biobased economy depend on a strong agricultural workforce. Here’s a brief sampling of experts needed in the emerging Biobased economy that use knowledge of agriculture in their jobs:
- Agricultural Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Agronomists
- Plant Pathologists
- Entomologists
- Plant Physiologists
- Computer and technology experts
- Chemists
- Logistics engineers
- Bioprocessing Engineers
- Forest Products Engineers
- and more