Corteva Pollinator Program Expands to Provide Additional Education, Habitat Opportunities
22 June 2022, Indianapolis: Corteva Agriscience today announced the expansion of the Corteva Agriscience Grows Pollinator Habitat Program, supporting monarch butterfly and pollinator habitat creation across the United States. In collaboration with National 4-H Council and Pheasants Forever, the program will grow in this next phase to include the planting of pollinator habitats at selected community sites across the United States and additional pollinator education efforts.
“Since it was established in 2018, the Corteva Agriscience Grows Pollinator Habitat Program has exceeded our initial goals by reaching thousands of students and planting nearly 90 acres of habitat, primarily along monarch migration routes,” said Heidi Spahn, Community Investment Lead at Corteva Agriscience. “We’re proud to continue to grow our efforts alongside National 4-H Council and Pheasants Forever, who have both been invaluable collaborators as we work toward our shared goals of increasing biodiversity and promoting the long-term health and wellbeing of pollinators that play a vital role in food production.”
For the first time, non-Corteva Agriscience owned locations will be selected for habitat sites, offering additional opportunities for community engagement and involvement. With financial support from Corteva, 4-H youth and Pheasants Forever will plant and maintain the new plots, with Pheasants Forever providing additional expertise and support including habitat seed, site preparation, planting support and ongoing mowing.
“We’re excited to expand our collaboration with Corteva Agriscience once again,” said Anna Swerczek, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Habitat Education Program Manager. “Establishing pollinator habitat with engaged staff had a tremendous impact, and this will only grow though the continued collaboration. These projects will continue to create new critical habitat for grassland birds, monarch butterflies and other pollinators while serving as outdoor educational spaces for students and employees.”
As part of the program, students enjoy hands-on learning opportunities in the field, as well as pollinator curriculum and take-home activities and kits. In the first three years, over 17,000 youth benefitted from the program, either as student-trainers or trainees, or as pollinator kit recipients.
“When I heard the buzz around training teens to be Pollinator Ambassadors as part of a collaboration with Corteva Agriscience, National 4-H Council and Pheasants Forever, I jumped at the opportunity. Since joining the program three years ago, I’ve educated 10,000 people, planted 36 pollinator acres in Illinois, and given pollinator presentations in almost every U.S. state and in Canada,” said Elaan Bader, Illinois 4-H Teen Pollinator Ambassador. “Pollinators play a vital role in global food security and bridge cultures. Sharing seeds of knowledge and seeds to plant provides opportunities for flowers, food, personal growth and positive change.”
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