**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT'S AGROTEK INNOVATION PROGRAM WILL OFFER HANDS-ON, TIMELY AND ENGAGING EXPERIENCES TO BUILD A TECHNOLOGY-SAVVY WORKFORCE FOR VERMONT'S AGRICULTURAL FUTURE. WE WILL OFFER A SERIES OF NON-FORMAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES TO CREATE A PATHWAY TO EDUCATION AND CAREERS IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, WORKING SIDE BY SIDE FACULTY RESEARCHERS AND UNDERGRADUATE MENTORS, ENGAGING IN EXPERIMENTS USING AN INQUIRY-BASED APPROACH TO EXPLORE FOUR INNOVATIVE AGROTECHNOLOGY CURRICULA: 1) SHIFTING THE WASTE TO VALUE PARADIGM; 2) CREATING SMARTER PLASTICS WITH PLANTS; 3) USING VIRTUAL REALITY FOR MORE PRECISE AGRICULTURE; AND 4) CULTURING CELLS FOR HEALTHIER SOILS. THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES, PARTICIPANTS WILL BEGIN TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING THE DESIGN, EXECUTION AND EVALUATION OF PROJECTS THAT WILL BUILD PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFE, EQUITABLE, AND ENHANCED USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND FOOD SYSTEMS. WITH AN EYE TO CURRENT AND EMERGENT TECHNOLOGIES AND SOCIETAL NEEDS, OUR CURRICULUM WILL SPAN BASIC RESEARCH, PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, OPPORTUNITY RECOGNITION, DESIGN THINKING, PROTOTYPING, AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE FOOD, FIBER AND ENERGY POTENTIAL, USING FACULTY EXPERTISE IN PRECISION AGRICULTURE WITH VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY AND A VARIETY OF UNIQUE AGRICULTURAL CROPS INCLUDING ALGAE, LEGUMES, AND INDUSTRIAL HEMP FIBERS. THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE A TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH THAT EQUIPS STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-12 WITH TRANSFERABLE SKILLS THROUGH IMMERSIVE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES AND BY DESIGNING THEIR OWN FINAL PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE THE SAFE AND EQUITABLE USE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE.