Transitioning to sustainable agriculture on a large scale will depend on informed, empowered farmers leading the charge. Education and practical training are essential tools for equipping the next generation with the skills and mindset to transform our food system. Nate Blum, head of the non-profit Sorghum United, emphasizes opportunities that distill complex techniques into digestible lessons suited for a diversity of crops, livestock systems, and regional conditions.
“We make sustainability accessible by connecting farmers with customized resources and training opportunities,” says Blum. “Relevant, practical learning helps bring meaning to concepts and builds confidence to implement new practices.”
Programs like farm apprenticeships and field workshops offer immersive sustainability training tailored to various crops and animal farming methods. According to Blum, these opportunities allow for nuanced instruction tackling the specifics of applying regenerative techniques locally. Graduates gain tangible experience to apply to their own operations.
College curriculum innovations also integrate sustainability principles into conventional agricultural education. Several universities now offer majors in areas like sustainable food systems and ecological farming. However, Blum notes formal higher education needs to continue evolving to produce graduates versed in regenerative techniques.
“Classroom theory only goes so far,” Blum explains. “We need more ways for students to learn by doing, whether through student-run farms, community partnerships, or incentivized campus sustainability projects.”
Ongoing farmer training programs through nonprofits and state agricultural agencies provide further education outside of traditional college. Workshops, seminars, and online courses make specialized topics in biological farming more accessible through short-term continuing education formats.
“It’s about meeting farmers where they are and providing engaging, relevant learning opportunities at all stages of their careers,” says Blum.
Starting Young With Sustainable Agriculture Lessons
Involving young people lays the foundation for lifelong learning around sustainability. Blum’s children’s book series The Sorgho Squad, aims to engage kids around eco-friendly farming.
“Children have a natural curiosity about how things grow and a passion for the environment,” Blum says. “We hope to nurture future agripreneurs and ecologists through stories that open their eyes to sustainability.”
The illustrated books showcase a team of children helping farmers implement practices like cover crops, composting, and drip irrigation. Making these concepts approachable for kids sets the stage for deeper education later on. The series also highlights the diversity of sustainable farming, from mixed vegetable plots to cattle ranching.
Other youth education initiatives like school gardens, farm field trips, and 4-H programs also introduce children to nature-based growing techniques. These experiences build early familiarity with core ecological principles that underpin sustainable agriculture. Blake believes hands-on learning enables kids to envision themselves as future stewards of the land.
Overcoming Misconceptions Through Holistic Training
Transitioning to eco-friendly farming also involves overcoming misconceptions, Blum notes. Many conventional farmers associate sustainability with lower yields and profits. But the latest research and real-world results counter these myths. This is why Blum believes holistic training focused on both practices and whole farm-business planning is key.
“Farmers want to pass on thriving farms to future generations. We show how regenerative farming can bolster both ecology and economies through in-depth training focused on entrepreneurial skills,” he explains.
Blum envisions a future where such holistic, eco-friendly growing methods are the norm. But getting there, he says, means “equipping generations of farmers to be caretakers of the land through knowledge and practical learning.” Investing in forward-thinking agricultural education now will yield sustainability dividends for decades to come.
About Nate Blum
Nate Blum serves as the Chief Executive Officer of BlüMilo and Sorghum United. Sorghum United is an international NGO serving to advance education and markets development for sorghum and adjacent small grains. He is an expert on grain sorghum production and marketing, with a focus on value-added agriculture processing for sorghum-based products.
Mr. Blum has represented Nebraska producers in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Vietnam, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Jordan, Great Britain, Scotland, Australia, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations FAO. He has also worked with international stakeholders in regard to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, hosting an Independent Food Systems Summit (August 2021). Mr. Blum served as the Executive Director of the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board and the Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association from 2019 to 2023.
Mr. Blum served on the USDA Grains, Feed, and Oilseeds Ag Trade Advisory Committee (ATAC). The ATAC advised trade policy to the office of the US Trade Representative. He is an Alumnus of the University of Nebraska (Class of 2019), the Nebraska Leadership, Education, Agriculture, Development (LEAD) Program (Class XXXVI), and recently served as the Vice president of the Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
