PIEFA Conference 2025 is underway in Canberra this week at Hotel Realm, bringing together national leaders in food and fibre education, attracting educators, government representatives, and industry stakeholders from across the country. Hosted by the Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) — the national peak body for food and fibre education, the event showcases the latest initiatives, programs and strategic collaborations advancing food and fibre learning in Australian schools.
At the 2025 PIEFA Conference, RMCG consultant Brooke Hermans delivered a comprehensive update on the development of the National Schools Food and Fibre Education Strategy, a cross-industry initiative led by fifteen Research and Development Corporations (RDCs).
Recognising the vital role of education in securing the future of Australia’s food and fibre industries, the RDCs have come together to drive the development of a national strategy focused on embedding food and fibre education in every Australian classroom.
In her presentation, Ms Hermans emphasised the critical role food and fibre industries play in strengthening Australia’s economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and food security. However, she noted that these sectors face significant challenges, including attracting a skilled workforce and maintaining community trust, in part due to a growing disconnect between urban populations and agriculture, fisheries and forestry.
“Our goal is to inspire, equip and connect students and educators with industry so they can confidently champion a sustainable and thriving food and fibre sector,” said Ms Hermans.
“We know there are fantastic examples of food and fibre education (FFE) already happening in schools and our challenge is to scale this up, reduce the barriers and better coordinate support across the country.”
In her update, Brooke outlined the key pillars of the draft Strategy, which include:
- Increasing career information and real-world experiences for students
- Expanding the number of schools offering dedicated food and fibre subjects
- Integrating food and fibre education across all areas of the curriculum
To deliver on these priorities, the Strategy calls for:
- Strong collaboration from industry to support food and fibre education
- Active engagement by curriculum authorities, education departments and schools
- Coordinated delivery of quality, ‘school-friendly’ resources that empower teachers and learners
Following the presentation, educators and attendees took part in an opt-in workshop designed to test the draft Strategy framework and gather targeted feedback.
The Strategy update was delivered as part of PIEFA Conference 2025. As a collaborative partner, PIEFA continues to champion national efforts to strengthen classroom connection to agriculture, food and fibre through curriculum-aligned resources, industry partnerships and sector-wide leadership.
The draft National Schools Food and Fibre Education Strategy, including detailed actions, governance and monitoring arrangements, will be released for public comment in late July 2025.
