Agriculture Learning Standards
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster
The agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) industry is a highly technical and ever-changing sector of the global economy upon which everyone is dependent. National and global demand for a safe and abundant food, fiber and fuel supply depends on the growth and development of the human capital for the AFNR industry. Strong, relevant AFNR career and technical education programs that are informed by industry and education stakeholders are one way we can meet workforce needs now and in the future.
The AFNR Career Cluster Content Standards provide state agricultural education leaders and educators with a high-quality, rigorous set of standards to define what students should know and be able to do after completing a program of study in any of the following AFNR career pathways:
- Agribusiness Systems
- Animal Systems
- Biotechnology Systems
- Environmental Service Systems
- Food Products and Processing Systems
- Natural Resource Systems
- Plant Systems
- Power, Structural and Technical Systems
State leaders and local educators are encouraged to use the standards as a guide for the development of well-planned curriculum and assessments for AFNR-relatedÌýcareer and technical education programs. These standards are intended to help shape the design of all components of an agricultural education program including:Ìý
- Classroom and laboratory instruction
- Career and technical student organization (CTSO) experiences through organizations such as the National FFA Organization
- Work-based learning experiences such as supervised agricultural experience (SAE) programs and internships
