Challenge Accepted?

Agriculture consumes large amounts of energy in the production of our food. Farms consume energy both directly through the use of diesel, electricity, propane, natural gas and renewable fuels as well as in directly through the use of fuel in the production of fertilizers, pesticides and feedstock. In this challenge, students will learn about energy in various forms and design as well as build and share a solution that diversifies energy consumption.

Identify the Challenge

A well-established, diversified energy system can provide benefits to society. Investment in diversifying our energy portfolio can reduce emissions and insulate against price shocks from overreliance on one form of energy. About 90% of American energy consumption is from nonrenewable sources primarily distillate fuels and coal. Renewable energy comprises a fraction of the American energy portfolio — approximately 10% of total energy consumption.i

Energy is needed to produce the food we eat and transport it to consumers here at home and around the world. The most recent data from the USDA shows that the agricultural sector consumed “1,714 trillion British Thermal Units (BTU) of energy in 2014.”ii Renewable energy can help farmers become more self-sufficient, diversify income and promote practices that can benefit the environment. While agriculture consumes energy in a multitude of ways, there is also an opportunity to utilize renewable energy to meet the needs of the industry.

Challenge Question (Call to Action)
How can we improve or diversify the way agriculture generates or consumes energy?

The solution must address the following needs:

• Production as well as economic, environmental and societal needs
  
• Trade-offs of using the different energy sources

Success will be determined by

• Production of a model solution that uses a renewable energy source in an agricultural application to diversify energy consumption and demonstrates innovation
• Producing and sharing a presentation that communicates knowledge gained

This experience is designed for kids, but must be submitted by an adult over the age of 18. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) prevents The Purple Plow Challenge from collecting personal information online from children under age 13.

• Do not include student names, school name or any other personal information in the body of the response questions. Enter school and contact information only in the specific designated areas of the form.

Do your photos need a release? Any photo that shows the face of a student or recognizable characteristics of that student requires an official AFBFA photo release form. (DOWNLOAD HERE). Here are some tips for taking pictures that Do Not require a photo release: Take pictures of

• Student prototypes only
• Students’ hands working on projects
• Over-the-shoulder pictures of students working from behind.