Horticulture Curriculum Review

Description

The Horticulture Industry was worth an estimated €566 million in 2023: (Mushrooms (€136m), Potatoes (€134m), Field Crops (€96m), Protected Fruit and Vegetables (€84m), Soft Fruit (outdoor) (€733K) and Top fruit (9m). The Amenity Horticulture sector can be further sub-divided into hardy nursery Stock (€54m), Protected Crops (€24m), Christmas Trees (€9m), Cut Foliage, Outdoor Flowers and Bulbs (€10m) and Turf Grass (€1.6m). Following the publication of the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 which makes specific reference (Key Strategic Action 4) to the need to update the horticulture curriculum, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) wishes to commission a consultant(s) to carry out an extensive review of and report on post school horticulture education and training. In response to the succession challenges that many of these sectors face, there is a need to identify the best methods to attract, develop and retain talent in the industry and provide appropriate educational and training services with progression opportunities. Curriculum review is seen as one way to do this and attract new entrants and demonstrate the attractiveness of horticulture as a career. The goal of the report is therefore to inform and guide the future of horticulture education and training to create a workforce fit for tomorrow (and today’s) horticulture challenges. Horticulture training is split into commercial production (plant and food production) and amenity (leisure end). A working group has been established to guide the development and modernisation of the horticulture training, CPD and education offering (ensuring the fundamentals are covered while also including bioeconomy, circularity and sustainability principles, low input, regenerative and organic production, IPM, climate change adaptation and mitigation, innovative and best business practice and food safety).