HarvestEd - Solving Tomorrow's Problems Today.

As Term 2 draws to its conclusion, I thought it was an opportune time to reflect on the HarvestEd program I have been running with students in regional, rural and remote Queensland.  

Largely delivered online, students have used the virtual iSee platform for interaction, engagement and collaboration, and utilised the technology to create content using smart boards, vote on issues using traffic light polls, discuss and debate topics using chat functions and use web cam and spatial audio features for team interaction, sharing and reflection. 

Using design thinking and metacognitive tools, students have explored a human-centered approach to innovation as they creatively address agricultural issues in their region and across the world, including sustainability, food scarcity, foreign trade and urbanisation.   

Challenging assumptions, exhibiting empathy and exploring agricultures vast connections to the Asia-Pacific region, students have been inspired by guest speakers and case studies and have begun using design thinking tools to ideate innovative products and services to tackle such problems.  

Industry expert Andrew Lewis, from the Fitzroy Basin Association, told students “Agriculture is the best industry in the world,” and stressed how important skills like communication and collaboration are to the profession. Highlighting this, he explained how large-scale organisations, such as Apple are working with farmers to offset their carbon emissions.  

Building on the concepts of sustainable farming and innovation, Braden Hellmuth spoke of his role as Head of Engineering, Automation and Technology at Greensill Farming and how he regularly travels to Israel to learn about advancements in ag-tech. Reflecting on his trips, he shared how he now uses robotics and 3D imagery in potato farming.    

While Roberta Donnelly from Dunraven Station shared the many changes she has seen in agriculture over the years and provided the example of the smart technology she currently uses on her farm that sends updates, such as water levels, directly to her phone. She told students the key to farming is, “working with the land not against it.”   

Reflecting on HarvestEd at the midpoint of the program, one student commented, “Inventors see the future not just the now. We need to solve tomorrow’s problems today,” while another added “innovations help create a better way of life.”   

Students will now work on a design challenge tackling an agriculture issue they are passionate about and will present it at a marketplace day at the Advance Technology and Innovation Centre at Central Queensland University in August. 

Read more about HarvestEd2021 on the Asia Education Foundation website.