Integration of Food Education into Ideological and Political Courses in Agriculture-Related Universities: Value Implications, Practical Challenges, and Implementation Pathways

Abstract

The development of ideological and political courses in agriculture-related universities requires deep integration of agricultural characteristics with the missions of the era to address the disconnection between ideological education and professional training. Food education, as a comprehensive system spanning from farm to table, embodies multiple values, including food security, ecological civilization, cultural heritage, and healthy living, serving as a natural ideological carrier that connects students’ professional identity, national strategies, and personal values. However, current integration practices face multiple challenges, including fragmented curriculum systems, superficial teaching content, weak practical components, and insufficient collaborative mechanisms. Guided by the concept of “holistic ideological education”, this study proposes a deeply integrated system of food education and ideological education from four dimensions: value orientation, knowledge framework, practical cultivation, and support mechanisms. By embedding the core of food education into ideological courses, developing characteristic teaching modules centered on agricultural civilization and rural revitalization, creating an integrated practical education chain connecting classrooms, fields, and society, and establishing a multi-subject collaborative mechanism, the aim is to transform grand narratives into perceptible educational practices, enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of ideological and political courses, and lay a solid foundation for nurturing new-era talents with strong national consciousness and a commitment to agricultural development.