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Sociocultural tensions and wicked problems in sustainable agriculture education

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher D. Murakami

    (University of Missouri)

  • Mary K. Hendrickson

    (University of Missouri)

  • Marcelle A. Siegel

    (University of Missouri
    University of Missouri)

Abstract

Future practitioners of sustainable agriculture and agroecology must have the capacity to address the wicked problems in the food system to make progress toward sustainability. Undergraduate sustainable agriculture students from a variety of backgrounds may struggle with the question, is the challenging and complex work of addressing wicked problems of agroecology for me? Our case study investigated sociocultural tensions associated with identity encountered when wicked problems teaching units were integrated into the Advanced Practices of Sustainable Agriculture course at a large, Midwestern Land Grant University. The research and course employed a four-part framework that focused on (1) attending to individual needs and identities, (2) facilitating practice-based and community-based learning, (3) engaging in problems situated in regional contexts, and (4) supporting awareness of local and global political and ecological issues. Researchers used a community of practice theoretical lens, and focused on the sociocultural tensions that may have impacted individual and community identity formation. Two wicked problems teaching units are described by drawing upon documentation and audio recordings from planning meetings, course sessions, student and instructor interviews, and course artifacts. Vignettes were constructed to situate four interrelated types of sociocultural tensions encountered by instructors and students. These tensions reflected forces at the individual, community, local, and global levels which interact to influence learners’ capacity to become full participants in sustainable agriculture. The study fills a gap related to affective dimensions of learning like identity in agroecology education. Dilemmas and implications related to identity, pedagogy, and epistemology are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher D. Murakami & Mary K. Hendrickson & Marcelle A. Siegel, 2017. "Sociocultural tensions and wicked problems in sustainable agriculture education," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 34(3), pages 591-606, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:34:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s10460-016-9752-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-016-9752-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mike Pedler & Shih-wei Hsu, 2014. "Unlearning, critical action learning and wicked problems," Action Learning: Research and Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(3), pages 296-310, November.
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    4. Ryan Galt & Damian Parr & Julia Van Soelen Kim & Jessica Beckett & Maggie Lickter & Heidi Ballard, 2013. "Transformative food systems education in a land-grant college of agriculture: the importance of learner-centered inquiries," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 30(1), pages 129-142, March.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Guang Han & Robert A. Martin, 2018. "Teaching and Learning about Biomass Energy: The Significance of Biomass Education in Schools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, March.
    3. Ralph De Witte & Dirk Janssen & Samir Sayadi Gmada & Carmen García-García, 2023. "Best Practices for Training in Sustainable Greenhouse Horticulture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-26, March.
    4. Douglas H. Constance, 2023. "The doctors of agrifood studies," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(1), pages 31-43, March.
    5. Raelin Kronenberg & Sarah Lovell & Bhuwan Thapa & Christine Spinka & Corinne Valdivia & Michael Gold & Sougata Bardhan, 2023. "Survey of Missouri Landowners to Explore the Potential of Woody Perennials to Integrate Conservation and Production," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, October.

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