Manilla Central School could be on the forefront of the agricultural revolution after becoming one of just seven schools selected to take part in a national program.
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The Agrifutures Program is a two-term agricultural entrepreneurship program, which will see 32 year nine and ten students developing business ideas, and plans to "solve some of the biggest problems facing Australian farmers."
Agriculture teacher Justin Connors said some of the ideas in the works already were different styles of electric fencing, feed monitoring apps and other tech advances, as well as an idea that involves finding uses for redundant red blood cells after plasma has been removed.
"The program will build on the students' existing skills and their personal interest in, and connections with, local agriculture," he said.
"Changes in technology, markets and climate mean the agricultural sector today must be just as innovative as the manufacturing or service sectors."
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The program is an initiative of Liz Jackson's startup.business, a practical educational program for aspiring entrepreneurs, and is also backed by the federal AgriFutures Australia Entrepreneurial Learning in Action program.
In May the students met with with local agricultural innovators, entrepreneurs, farmers and business owners that have already had success in the industry, and will now act as mentors, while the students will also go on excursions to the Sydney Startup Hub, and the Brilliant Business Kids Festival at Sydney University in November.
At the end of term 3 the students will pitch their ideas to the school and to stakeholders, with the best three selected to go on to a further development program in Canberra at the end of the year.
"It is teaching the kids that there is an entrepreneur market, and many different avenues to create a business in agriculture," Mr Connors said.
"These experiences and attributes will put the students in an excellent position to pursue careers in the sector after school, through tertiary education, and employment."