Up to 40% of the food supply in the United States is wasted, but much of it could be repurposed as fertilizer. Learning modules were developed to introduce undergraduate students to the concepts surrounding food waste and extreme weather, the potential for a future circular bioeconomy that integrates the food-energy-water-waste-nutrient nexus, and the use of organic fertilizers in hydroponic systems that such processes will require. “Food Waste as Fertilizer” learning modules were integrated into the instruction of undergraduate coursework in horticulture at Kansas State University (KSU; HORT 705 Hydroponic Food Production) during Spring 2024 and Arizona State University (ASU; ABS 314 Applied Plant Physiology and ABS 464 Desert Horticulture) during Fall 2024. Impact of the modules on changing student perceptions and knowledge were evaluated with pre- and post-surveys administered just before and after the module intervention. Matched pairs were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test for the ordinal data. At KSU (n=17), the learning module resulted in a positive shift in perception of students in response to 1) their interest in using organic fertilizer during hydroponic production, and 2) reporting that using organic fertilizers would be standard practice in the future. Other knowledge and perception survey items were not different between the pre- and post-tests. At ASU (n=15), students showed 1) a greater interest in applying organic fertilizers and 2) increased confidence in their ability to successfully grow hydroponic crops using organic fertilizers. Additionally, students recognized that optimizing processing methods and growing conditions could enhance the quality and performance of organic fertilizers. These findings suggest that "Food Waste as Fertilizer" learning modules successfully enhanced students’ understanding and confidence in using organic fertilizers in hydroponic systems. The positive shifts in perception at both KSU and ASU demonstrate the potential of such educational interventions to promote sustainable horticultural practices. Additionally, students recognized the importance of optimizing fertilizer processing and growing conditions, highlighting the role of innovation in improving fertilizer performance for future horticultural practices.
