What is the purpose of an
education? I have always loved asking provoking questions in class. I remember
last year asking all my classes, “How many of you would like to be farmers?” In
a class of 120 students, there were a few embarrassed laughs, looks of incredulity
and finally…one sheepish voice says “We are management students – why would we
be farmers?”
So why would are our future
generation aspire to be farmers? Especially as we know there is a rash
migration to urban spaces teetering on the brink of exploding. According to the
UN World Food Program, 870
million people do not have enough to eat and 98 percent of them live in
developing countries. Take for example Africa. As we see more urban migration,
basic staples like maize, rice and wheat need to be brought in from outside the
continent, overcoming large trade barriers. The cost is above US$20 billion pa—and
what is more scary is that demand is projected to double by 2020 (World Bank, 2012). Urban farming
(urban agriculture) could be one smart method.
Keep in mind that by 2015, the
size for the global organic food and beverage market is expected to touch
$104.5 billion (Markets
and Markets) and this is despite the fact The
American Academy of Pediatrics is unsure of the benefits of organics. GCC
is buying vast tracks of farm land in Africa and for food security. We are
seeing a global shift in dietary habits
(more meat, diary, more expensive foods, and processed foods)! Waste
management, sustainable food management and crisis management are important
topics in this area. Did you know that 3/4ths of world food sales are processed
foods and the largest manufacturers hold over a third of the global market (Alfranca,
Rama and Tunzelmann 2003) [1]?
Did you know a study in 2008 found out that over 50% of water and 30% of food
was wasted? This was a study
authored by Stockholm International Water Institute, the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization, and the International Water Management Institute. I
am not even going to touch on technology, security and environment management
for this area. But if the importance of farming is not realized – then how will
we “manage”? Even worse – why should an education system teach our young to
look down on any profession?
So getting back to my original
question – the purpose of education is to educate. According to its Latin
roots, it means to a breeding, a bringing up, a rearing and the purpose is to lead
forth, take out; raise up, erect. When we educate – we need to train our
students to lead – to come out with ideas, opinions and follow them through. I
am worried we are getting so “bookish” and tied down to curriculum that is at
least 20 years out of date that we are missing the world turn! I am not the
only one – Sir Ken Robinson talks about how schools kill creativity (TED,
2006; RSA 2012). I
think we need to redefine education and see how much policy, accreditation and
ranking lists should influence choice of schools and universities.
[1] Alfranca
O, Rama R, Tunzelmann N (2003) Technological fields and concentration of
innovation among food and beverage multinationals. International Food and
Agribusiness Management Review 5.
