Climate and Grazing Land

We often see pieces on climate change and its impact on agriculture. Many of these articles are focused on the impact to cash crops,  but a recent study by the University of Minnesota takes a closer look at the impact of climate change on grazing areas. We invite you to read through the linked article and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations around the globe!

Global Grazing Lands Increasingly Vulnerable to a Changing Climate

Discussion Points

• What did this study find? Be specific?
• Why can grazing land be at a higher risk due to climate change than some other areas?
• Many points were shared regarding climate change and global grazing areas. Of all the points shared which did you find most surprising and why?
• In your opinion what can be done to combat climate change in grazing areas? Justify your reasoning. 

Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenya

Antibiotics are a tool that farmers and producers can use to battle sickness and disease with their livestock. But like many things in this world, if a good thing is overused or abused there can be harmful results. This is the case with antimicrobial resistance. Often times developing countries can be at a much higher risk of antimicrobial resistance for a variety of reasons. The linked video from the FAO shows how farmers in Kenya are protecting against antimicrobial resistance.

AMR in Kenya - Rising to the Challenge

Discussion Points

• What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)? If someone walked up to you on the street and asked you what AMR is and why it is a concern what would you tell them?
• What are farmers in Kenya doing to combat and protect against AMR? Of these practices which do you feel is most important and why?
• In the video it stated that developing countries are at a higher risk of AMR. Why is this?
• The "one health" concept mentioned in the video calls on everyone to fight AMR. Why is this so important? How do we get everyone to "buy in" to fighting AMR?

Green Milk

Many are well aware of China’s growing demand for food speicifically meat. However, did you now that milk consumption is on the rise in China as well? The linked article takes a look at this demand and the potential impact expanding could have on the country if practices are not changed and improved. We encourage you to read through the linked article and utilize the discussion points provided to guide conversations around the world!

China’s Need to Turn Milk Green

Discussion Points

• What has been the trend of milk consumption in China over the past years and what direction is it heading?
• The article calls for a need to change current practices. What would be the impact if dairy production expanded in China and dairy producers kept doing “business as usual?”
• China is calling on other countries for advice and education to improve their practices. As a world community we can all learn so much from another. Whether we adapt others practices directly or it causes us to reflect, analyze, and improve things indirectly; we can truly learn so much from one another. We challenge you to pick an area of interest to you in agriculture (dairy, swine, crops, horticulture, natural resources, etc.) and research another countries practices, rules and regulations, facilities/equipment, etc. Have a discussion on what your home country can learn from that country and what you might do differently to improve things at home.

Gene Editing and Global Hunger

This week we take a look at the potential impact of gene editing and genetic modifications to impact hunger at a global level. This topic often can become controversial, but there are opportunities for great discussion if civil discussions can occur. We encourage you to utilize the discussion points below to have conversations around gene editing and genetic modifications in agriculture with others. It is important to have these conversations with those in agriculture, but we challenge you to have these conversations with those not directly tied to agriculture as well. Everyone is a consumer and needs to know their options and be able to make educated decisions.

Can gene editing provide a solution to global hunger?

Discussion Points

• How can genetically modified or gene edited crops help combat global hunger?
• What is the difference between genetically modifying and gene editing?
• What are the benefits and concerns with gene editing and gene modification? 
• Do some additional research. What does science say about the safety of gene editing and genetic modification of agricultural products?
• In your opinion what role will gene editing and gene modification play in the role of battling global hunger? What has it's role in the past been?