Primary Pupils To Grow Their Own Food Industry

A primary schools' competition, launched in Northern Ireland, to enable children to gain a grassroots appreciation of the worth and value of food - by growing it themselves - has received its first entry.

Linda Armour, the Principal of Loanends Primary School at Crumlin, said she was delighted to have her school participate in a visionary initiative which has encompassed many key elements of the core curriculum.

"Our Parents Teacher Association donated a new green house to our school last year and this amazing competition, which has developed Key Stage 1 & 2 core subject, means that our children have a wonderful opportunity to grow vegetables, learn and have fun at the same time," she said.

The initiative, 'How do we contribute to the Global Food Network & Our Environment?' is the brainchild of the Northern Ireland academic and entrepreneur, Dr Philip McCartney.

In collaboration with The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society and The Balmoral Show, Philip has taken six months to design the concept in conjunction with education and the wider community.

"We believe this is a fantastic challenge and wonderful opportunity for our Primary Schools to enter an exciting competition which is designed to offer a hands’ on approach to producing food," said Dr McCartney.

Also commenting, RUAS boss, Colin McDonald said: "It's the first time the private and public sector has worked together to create a fully vetted, core curriculum topic for Primary Schools.

"Not only does it have huge positive education implications it's also going also to be great fun for the children as well," he observed.

Based on Key Stages 1 - 2, Years 4 ‐ 7, a fully comprehensive topic grid has been created for teachers to help children grow their own vegetables, learn about many vital aspects of food and the environment and encourage closer links with local farming families the school's catchment areas.

A fully fitted 50-inch television is first prize and the winning school and five runner‐ up schools will be invited to the Balmoral Show as guests of the Royal Agricultural Society.

At the show, the winning displays will be a central attraction in the Food Pavilion on the Global Food Network stand and a major focus of the Balmoral Show educational schools trail.

Entries for the competition - which are free - close on the 31st January 2009 and should be sent to rob@theglobalfoodnetwork.org or phone 028 2563 8688 for further information.

(BMcC/JM)