Students show ‘incredible’ innovation in agriculture

Mackay North State High School students are using hi-tech equipment to try their hand at multimillion-dollar industries

Mackay North State High School students (from left): Jacob Weir, Cee-jay Lee, Ethan Daly, Nicholas Bartolo and Jordan Creighton taking part in an AgriFutures Australia program. Picture: Contributed

In between their math and literacy classes, students at Mackay North State High School students are raising red claw crayfish.

The project is part of a AgriFutures Australia-sponsored program encouraging students to find business opportunities in the global food supply chain.

Startup Business International program director Leigh Morgan said the students’ “incredible” system helped them understand the multimillion-dollar aquaculture industry.

“One of the things I love about (agricultural) students is that they see a problem and come up with an innovative solution,” Ms Morgan said.

“That’s the type of critical thinking that moves a business forward towards an environmentally sustainable future.

“The opportunities for Australians in the global food production system are huge and these students have the advantage.

“They’re showing what is possible when we put our innovative ideas into action.”

Aussie Tooling Solutions' Nathan Pyle instructing the Year 11 Ag Practices Class in servicing of the walk behind tractor as part of AgriFutures Australia's program. Picture: Contributed

Mackay North student Ceejay Lee said the class also used modern machinery to till soil for planting crops with Agricultural Studies teacher Janine Jarett adding they used technology to sustainably farm under Mackay’s climate.

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AgriFutures Australia has run the program in Australian schools for three years with students also able to participate outside school hours through Startup Business Education’s website.

For more information on the program phone Leigh Morgan on 0451308107 or email [e-mail]

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Originally published as Students show ‘incredible’ innovation in agriculture