North America Scholastic Esports Federation and U.S. Department of State partner to help youth experience realities of farming and supply chain management through fun Minecraft game

(Atlanta, GA – November 28, 2022) – Students around the world are invited to join NASEF Farmcraft® 2023, an engaging STEM-based program that teaches the challenges faced by agricultural producers and distributors around the world in a custom Minecraft game, supported by lesson plans and online engagement with teachers and subject experts.

Farmcraft is an immersive experience that uses Minecraft Education Edition to mirror the process of farming and taking food to market and consumers. The 2023 program is focused on food trade and food security, asking the question “What happens to food once it leaves the farm?”  Participants will learn about the choices that farmers must make before even planting their crops, thinking about which crops to grow, who will eat the crops, where the crops must be sent, and how to deliver those crops.

This free program is presented to youth around the world by the U.S. Department of State and the North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF); the custom Farmcraft world is developed by Cleverlike Studios. The competition is open to teams in grades 3-12. Educators are provided with lesson plans that reinforce the learning objectives of Farmcraft® 2023 and can be integrated into educational curriculum throughout the year. Minecraft Education Edition is also provided free to all participants throughout the course of the program.

 Farmcraft 2023 Details and Resources

• Registration is now open at https://www.nasef.org/farmcraft; registration deadline is April 7, 2023
• Feb. 2 – Mar. 16, 2023 | Pre-season: within the standard Minecraft game, participants use their creativity to build farms and food systems using prompts from the program organizers.
• Mar. 16 – Apr. 21, 2023 | Regular season: participants are granted access to the specialized Farmcraft world, a Minecraft mod that replicates real-world conditions of farming, supply chains, and food availability. Through the regular season, participants will be presented with three challenges that they must complete to be eligible for awards at the end of the program.
• Through the pre-season and regular season, NASEF will host regular livestreams that feature Food for Thought segments where participants have a chance to learn from agriculture and food trade experts. 
• Participants that choose to enter the international competition must submit gameplay scores by April 21, 2023. An awards livestream will be held on April 27, 2023, with winners receiving gift cards.  All participants who completed the regular season challenges will receive a certificate from the U.S. Department of State.

 “Each year, we’ve been thrilled with the number of students who’ve increased their knowledge of farming and climate science through Farmcraft,” said Gerald Solomon, founder and executive director of NASEF. “Last year, students from 68 countries joined the event! They learned important lessons as they played a popular game with teams of friends and classmates. We’re excited to extend the learning through a brand-new Farmcraft world.”

 “It’s vital for communities and individuals to understand their food sources and security. Farmcraft is an innovative program that builds critical knowledge for youth around the world,” said Adam Cornish at the U.S. Department of State. “We’re connecting play and learning in a meaningful way as students collaborate on teams and build STEM skills. This creative public diplomacy programming is presented in cooperation with U.S. embassies and consulates, with a focus on helping communities secure nutritious food sources and predictable supply chains.”

 Registration for Farmcraft is open now at NASEF.org/Farmcraft. A detailed Team Guide, overview of prizes, and program calendar are available on that web page.

 About the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ (ECA) mission is to build relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, professional and private exchanges, as well as public-private partnerships and mentoring programs. These exchange programs improve foreign relations and strengthen the national security of the United States. ECA programs, funding, and other activities encourage the involvement of American and international participants from traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities. Artists, educators, athletes, students, youth and rising leaders in the United States and more than 160 countries around the globe participate in academic, cultural, sports, and professional exchanges. For more information about ECA programs, initiatives, and achievements, visit eca.state.gov.

About the North America Scholastic Esports Federation

The North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) is on a mission to provide opportunities for all students to use esports as a platform to acquire STEM/STEAM-based skills and critical communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in work and in life. NASEF operates under the umbrella of the World Wide Scholastic Esports Foundation (WWSEF). Find NASEF at NASEF.org and on Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Contact:

Claire LaBeaux, NASEF, [email protected] 

Lynne Scheib, U.S. Department of State, [email protected]

Adam Cornish, U.S. Department of State, [email protected]