Local high school students are gaining firsthand experience in the future of agriculture through a five-week AgTech Career Taster Program at TAFE NSW Armidale.
Throughout the program, which launched in July and concluded this week, a selection of Year 9 and 10 students from Armidale High School, Armidale Secondary College, Glen Innes High School, and Uralla Central School have been learning essential AgTech skills in drone operations, the Internet of Things, coding, and artificial intelligence in agriculture.
As the Australian Government sets its sights on growing the agriculture sector into a $100 billion industry by 2030, integrating new digital technologies is crucial to achieving this goal. By 2030, one in three new jobs in the agriculture, fisheries, and forestry industry will be technology-related.
TAFE NSW Head Teacher of Information Technology Jackie Sheehan said the AgTech Career Taster Program provides students with real-world experience and an understanding of career pathways in this growing sector.
"Over the past four weeks we've had two groups of students gain hands-on technological skills that can be applied to a career in agriculture," Ms Sheehan said.
Read more: netimes.com.au