Curious teachers, create curious learners and great historians

© 2018, © 2018 ASPE. Engel, S.[2011. “Children’s Need to Know: Curiosity in Schools.” Harvard Educational Review 81 (4): 625–645] stated that curiosity should be cultivated in our schools as it is intrinsic to children’s development. However, this is often absent from classrooms. In this paper we aim to explore some of the factors that have led to a lack of curiosity in today’s classrooms by identifying the impact of rapid policy and curriculum change. We will then justify the importance of creative teaching to develop curiosity, not only in children but also in their teachers–curious teachers develop curious learners. We will conclude by sharing some case studies to illustrate how curiosity can be developed using history lessons as a platform

A Multi-Actor Literature Review on Alternative and Sustainable Food Systems for the Promotion of Cereal Biodiversity

Organic and low-input food systems are emerging worldwide in answer to the sustainability crisis of the conventional agri-food sector. “Alternative” systems are based on local, decentralized approaches to production and processing, regarding quality and health, and short supply-chains for products with strong local identities. Diversity is deeply embedded in these food systems, from the agrobiodiversity grown in farmers’ fields, which improves resilience and adaptation, to diverse approaches, contexts and actors in food manufacturing and marketing. Diversity thus becomes a cross-sectoral issue which acknowledges consumers’ demand for healthy products. In the framework of the European project “CERERE, CEreal REnaissance in Rural Europe: embedding diversity in organic and low-input food systems”, the paper aims at reviewing recent research on alternative and sustainable food systems by adopting an innovative and participatory multi-actor approach; this has involved ten practitioners and twenty-two researchers from across Europe and a variety of technical backgrounds in the paper and analysis stages. The participatory approach is the main innovation and distinctive feature of this literature review. Partners selected indeed what they perceived as most relevant in order to facilitate a transition towards more sustainable and diversity based cereal systems and food chains. This includes issues related to alternative food networks, formal and informal institutional settings, grass root initiatives, consumer involvement and, finally, knowledge exchange and sustainability. The review provides an overview of recent research that is relevant to CERERE partners as well as to anyone interested in alternative and sustainable food systems. The main objective of this paper was indeed to present a narrative of studies, which can form the foundation for future applied research to promote alternative methods of cereal production in Europe.Peer reviewe

Cover Crops, Farm Economics, and Policy

Cover crops have many environmental benefits. For example, cover crops can significantly reduce nitrate and phosphorus leaching from agricultural fields by scavenging residual nutrients, storing them in the soil, and making them available for future crops. Moreover, cover crops provide significant soil health benefits, including building organic matter over time and reducing erosion of topsoil. Cover crops have potential to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it as soil carbon, building high quality soil organic matter over time (Lal et al. 1998). Yet, farmers often do not receive enough benefits to warrant planting cover crops, particularly when they have no prior experience with managing cover crops. Therefore, public policies supporting cover crop use may be justified given their public benefit. Herein, we will discuss methods to provide public support for cover crops, including direct subsidies for planting cover crops and providing insurance benefits for cover crops. Overall, direct subsidies likely are the most efficient ways of providing support and may only need to be temporary as individuals gain experience with cover crops

Cover Crops on Illinois Farms

Cover crop use is increasing on U.S. farms, but it remains low. The main reason for low adoption rates is the financial and management challenges of cover crops. Using a unique, field-level dataset from Illinois farms, we find that on average, cover crop fields have a lower operator and land return due to the additional seed, planting, and termination cost. Financial assistance is necessary for cover crop fields to be as profitable as non-cover crop fields. We also consider the carbon sequestration potential of cover crop fields using the Cool Farm Tool and estimate farmer carbon credit payments for cover crops

Cover Crops on Illinois Farms

Cover crop use is increasing on U.S. farms, but it remains low. The main reason for low adoption rates is the financial and management challenges of cover crops. Using a unique, field-level dataset from Illinois farms, we find that on average, cover crop fields have a lower operator and land return due to the additional seed, planting, and termination cost. Financial assistance is necessary for cover crop fields to be as profitable as non-cover crop fields. We also consider the carbon sequestration potential of cover crop fields using the Cool Farm Tool and estimate farmer carbon credit payments for cover crops