Articles
CRISIS AND OPPORTUNITY IN HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION
Article number
762_3
Pages
31 – 42
Language
English
Abstract
Horticulture, as origin of the word implies, has been with us ever since the settlement of mankind and the development of agriculture, and now plays an integral part in human life and in the economy in the era of industrialized civilization.
Whereas major food crops received prime attention for their value in the sustenance of mankind, horticultural crops tended to be considered as secondary, as supplementary or even as a luxury.
Horticulture is now being recognized in underdeveloped countries as a hope for improved farmers income and better human nutrition.
In this age of industrialization and globalization, horticulture enjoys heightened recognition for its value in human health and wellbeing, as well as for its value to national economies.
Horticultural output and world trade is ever increasing.
Biological science and technologies are making vast strides with much potential to further enhance the importance of horticulture.
Despite of all these positive growth signs for horticulture, horticultural departments at universities, horticulture research institutes and related academic societies seem to be experiencing difficulties.
They find themselves caught on the crossroads between the temptation of adopting new branches of development, and the defense and conservation of traditional practices.
The winds of reform for efficiency and higher productivity imposed by national and international economies, certainly influence what and how we carry out education and research for horticulture.
By analyzing the nature of this crisis and re-assessing the hidden value of horticulture, we may be able to make this into an opportunity for a better future for horticulture in the age of the global economy.
To this end it is important for national and international societies to get organized and develop common agenda to promote horticulture as one of the ideal professions for human wellbeing in both developing and industrialized countries.
Whereas major food crops received prime attention for their value in the sustenance of mankind, horticultural crops tended to be considered as secondary, as supplementary or even as a luxury.
Horticulture is now being recognized in underdeveloped countries as a hope for improved farmers income and better human nutrition.
In this age of industrialization and globalization, horticulture enjoys heightened recognition for its value in human health and wellbeing, as well as for its value to national economies.
Horticultural output and world trade is ever increasing.
Biological science and technologies are making vast strides with much potential to further enhance the importance of horticulture.
Despite of all these positive growth signs for horticulture, horticultural departments at universities, horticulture research institutes and related academic societies seem to be experiencing difficulties.
They find themselves caught on the crossroads between the temptation of adopting new branches of development, and the defense and conservation of traditional practices.
The winds of reform for efficiency and higher productivity imposed by national and international economies, certainly influence what and how we carry out education and research for horticulture.
By analyzing the nature of this crisis and re-assessing the hidden value of horticulture, we may be able to make this into an opportunity for a better future for horticulture in the age of the global economy.
To this end it is important for national and international societies to get organized and develop common agenda to promote horticulture as one of the ideal professions for human wellbeing in both developing and industrialized countries.
Authors
B.-D. Kim
Keywords
research institutes, professional societies, competitive funding, academia, evaluation, scientific citation index (SCI)
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