Aquaculture is the fastest growing sectors of food production worldwide and is vitally important to obtaining sustainable food security in the future. However, in the United States aquaculture continues to grow at a sluggish pace and is often misunderstood or completely unknown to many U.S. consumers. A large amount of dollars from the federal government are now going towards research, education and outreach, with the goal of enhancing and growing the aquaculture industry. But with the overwhelming number of barriers and challenges to growth in the aquaculture industry, extension and education programing can often lack a focus towards clear outcomes. A core research-backed practice in education planning is known as backwards design. This theory was recently shared with international partners and works towards enhancing all aquaculture education, programing and business.
In an effort to increase effectiveness of growth focused initiatives in aquaculture, Michigan Sea Grant recently embarked on an international exchange with Indonesian aquaculture extension and education partners. The goal of the exchange was to share best practices in education and outreach efforts and to exchange knowledge on how to effectively implement aquaculture extension activities. Backwards design techniques were shared, and implemented by both partners. The results of this international exchange, along with backwards design, logic model and other planning techniques are now being shared to help enhance the aquaculture industry across all aspects.