EXPERIENTIAL AND EXPERIMENTAL TRAINING FOR MULTICULTURAL UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS IN AGROECOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCES AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Major Goals:1. To provide scientific training in Research and Extension at baccalaureate level relating to three of the six AFRI priority areas of Emphasis - Plant health and production; Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment; Agriculture economics with a focus on integrative aspects of natural resource sustainability, sustainable agriculture and agricultural climate adaptation.2. To prepare students for pursuing careers in the scientifically challenging and globally competitive US food and agriculture industry.3. To enhance multicultural diversity in the skilled agricultural workforce by recruiting from traditionally underrepresented groups.4. To increase the percentage of undergraduate degrees awarded in food and agricultural sciences relative to the number of undergraduate degrees in all fields of study.