Although Agriculture has traditionally been defined by the production of plants and animals, today, science and technology have added new areas of research, and investigation to the agriculture field. The 4-H AgriScience curriculum has been created to cultivate the emerging study of biotechnology and business/economics in the agriculture industry through hands-on experiential learning activities and online learning courses for youth. 

Biotechnology Activities

The science of biotechnology is a discipline that is growing in importance. As populations increase, communities are looking to produce healthy, plentiful and environmentally responsible products.  

A Scientist and an Engineer Make Bio-Based Products (pdf)

Scientists and engineers are constantly experimenting and using technology to invent new bio-based products. In this activity, use your innovation skills to learn about soy science, and design products that utilize soy protein to create a new bio-based material.

 Agriculture in Print: Soy Ink (pdf)

In this activity, learn about the harvest and production of soy-based inks. Try your hand at the art and technology of printing and see how oil and water mix.

 Food Science and Technology (pdf)

What keeps chocolate smooth and creamy? What chemical balance allows NesQuik® to blend so quickly? This activity allows you to discover how science is used in food technology to make products more stable and enjoyable for consumption.

 Agriculture at Work: Bioplastic (pdf)

Although about 95% of all the plastic in the world started out as crude oil, many plants like potatoes, soybeans and wheat are used to make plastic as well. In this activity, test your chemistry skills by making bioplastic with corn ingredients.

 From Biomass to Biofuel: Burn a Nut (pdf)

Biofuels are made from renewable materials like plants. Today, energy crop innovation is continuing to develop sources of sustainable biofuels. Now you can experiment to see how much energy can be produced from a plant-based source.

 Agriculture in Soap: Plant Oils Matter (pdf)

While biochemists use chemistry principles to improve our soaps, biotechnologists work to develop plant traits that will improve the fatty acids for use in soaps, food and other industrial products. Try an easy melt-and-pour recipe to make soap that meets your own consumer standards.

 Protecting You and the Environment: Green at Home (pdf)

When farmers and industrial companies work together to make bioproducts, the consumer wins; but how do everyday farmers make their products “green”? In this activity, choose a bio-based product, find the agriculture ingredient, create a consumer test, and report on your results.

 Face the Fat: Engineering a Better Oil (pdf)

Fats get a bad rap when it comes to the food we eat, so scientists are playing with plants to reduce the amount of trans fat in the foods we enjoy. Learn how to explore the types of fats you eat, monitor the amount of fat you consume in a day, and discover the role fats play in making food taste better.

Go Fish: Aquaculture (online) Coming Soon!  

Did you know that you can grow fish on a farm? Meet several scientists and fish farmers who are raising fish around the world as part of an aquaculture farm. Learn how technology makes it possible to raise fish in cities, in the ocean and even in the desert.

A Changing World (online) Coming Soon!  

Research, data and statistics can seem pretty dull unless they are presented in an entertaining and meaningful way. This online activity will introduce a tool to give new meaning to facts and figures, and will help make world population and agriculture facts come to life. Enjoy what you see and then use the tool to create graphs to tell your own story.

Business and Economics  

Until the Industrial Revolution, the U.S. economy was mainly focused on agricultural production. Since then, new technology and increased production capacity have altered the size and composition of the U.S. agricultural work force. Today, farming remains important to the economy because of its connection to a variety of industries, and agriculture-based technology holds promise for improving human well-being throughout the world.  

Through this curriculum youth will understand the factors of production of land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship as well as the concerns of producers and consumers.  

Lemonade Squeeze (online) Coming Soon!  

Becoming an entrepreneur can be an exciting challenge! Through this online game, learn about building a small business by finding the best formula for customer service, and investing in the right supplies. This interactive online activity is a lesson in economics.

Then and Now (online) Coming Soon!  

One hundred years ago you could only buy locally grown fruits and vegetables in season, unprocessed grains, and only one kind of milk. This interactive series will show you just how much times have changed.

Bringing the Market to the Farm (online) Coming Soon!  

Most people go to the local grocery store to pick up their fruits and vegetables, but a growing population is choosing to visit weekly farmers markets and support their local farmer through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). In this activity you will meet some producers and consumers who enjoy the benefits of a farm-to-table lifestyle.

Comings and Goings (online) Coming Soon! 

Thanks to global shipping and transportation, agricultural resources are readily available from a variety of geographic locations, no matter what the season. Get a new perspective on where your food comes from by exploring the global maps in this activity.

 Float Your Boat: Transporting Agriculture (pdf)

Transportation plays an important role in agriculture, whether freight transportation or sending products across the water on a barge, moving cargo requires a combination of engineering and ingenuity. In this activity, learn about sustainable transportation design by building your own unsinkable cargo boat.

 Agriculture Requires Engineering: Design and Egg Catcher (pdf)

With billions of eggs being produced every year, agricultural, environmental, and mechanical engineer farmers must work to develop a means to collect and transport them safely. In this activity, design a solution to catch a single egg, and then test the prototype of your design.