Agricultural Literacy of First-Year Ag Science University Students in Australia: A Case Study of a Piloted Standardised Assessment

Abstract

This article explores the level of agricultural literacy of first-year university students undertaking agriculture-related degrees in Australia. First-year university students undertaking their first degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness/Agricultural Economics, Animal Science, Environmental Science or general Science Australia-wide were asked to complete an online survey in 2023 to assess their level of agricultural literacy. This survey is based on the Judd-Murray Agricultural Literacy Instrument (JMALI). In the absence of a relevant Australian framework, JMALI was used as a validated instrument to measure agricultural literacy with slight modifications of the survey questions made to suit the Australian context. The results of the survey were explored through descriptive statistics to determine the frequency of responses and demographically characterise the respondents. Further analysis was conducted to explore the association between having studied agriculture in high school and the level of agricultural literacy. Only half of first-year university students studying an agriculture-related degree demonstrated a high level of agricultural literacy (score over 79.7% of the maximum score). Studying agriculture in high school had no effect on agricultural literacy.  More generally, the results identified the need to reinforce and deepen the knowledge of technological, sustainability, market and economic aspects of the agricultural industry for those entering agriculture-related degrees.