Tokyo Adventures

For our final full day in Japan, we made a day trip to Tokyo by train. We started the day off by visiting the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. There were numerous interactive and engaging exhibits to explore. The museum is supported by Sakura Science who also provided funding for this exchange experience. We were able to explore many different parts of the city and had to deal with some rain showers off and on. During one of the heavier rains, we stopped off at a Burger King for lunch and made sure to compare to what we know Burger King as in the United States. 

Following lunch, we ventured to the Sensouji Temple. The architecture was magnificent. Around the temple there were many gift shops and stores for us to explore. After a busy day we returned to Kofu and took advantage of some last-minute shopping. We look forward to safe travels in the days ahead as we return to Iowa. 

Mount Fuji Exploration

Our Saturday led us south out of Kofu to the area surrounding Mount Fuji. The impact of past eruptions of Mount Fuji on soil was discussed. Due to this much of the soil in the area is classified as Andisols. The first stop was at a cave that was created years ago from lava. Mount Fuji last erupted in 1707 and experts fear an eruption is imminent. From there we made our way to Saiko. There were many shops to explore and they provided the opportunity to grab lunch. 

Following lunch we ventured to the Fujisan Museum. This museum shared the story of Mount Fuji and it's religious roles.There were many interactive displays and we were able to head to the roof top for a great view of the town and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, due to cloud cover we were not able to see the peak of Mount Fuji today. We finished our time in Fujiyoshida City with a stop at a shrine that is key to Mount Fuji.

As we returned to the hotel the Hawkeye students were joined by students from the University of Yamanashi for dinner. Amber and Brad had the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Japanese meal with faculty and administration from the university. We now prep for an early morning train ride bound for Tokyo. 

Educational Collaboration in Japan

Today was a busy day with our colleagues and friends at the University of Yamanashi. We kicked off the day with a visit from the Dean of the College of Life and Environmental Sciences. Following this meeting we made our way to a large lab area where we met students from the University of Yamanashi. We learned a lot about agriculture in Yamanashi and research projects at the university. Yamanashi is a strong agriculture prefecture including ranking number one in production within Japan for grapes, peaches, and plums. This, also, allowed our students time to share Iowa agriculture and natural resources with students from Japan. 

For lunch we made our way to the campus cafeteria and enjoyed a peaceful lunch outdoors. Next, we ventured to the university farm where the group had the opportunity to operate drones and explore vineyards. We had the opportunity to learn about drone applications and uses within the university setting. This left a little time to explore the most famous shrine in the Yamanashi prefecture before dinner at a Japanese BBQ where we were able to grill our own meat via the grills in the middle of the tables. 

Tomatoes and Eggs Abroad

Today was our first full day in Japan and we learned a lot and took in great sites. Both of the operations that we visited were located outside of town. this provided a great opportunity to see the countryside including: rice, vineyards, natural areas, and even monkeys. We started the day by visiting Agrimind. This is a company that grows hydroponic tomatoes in greenhouses. The growing greenhouses cover 19,314 square meters (69,965 square feet). This facility was the first project of this type in all of Asia when it began in 2014. 

For lunch we had the opportunity to experience our first Japanese restaurant. The helpings were plentiful and we did not leave hungry. Next, we visited Kurofuji Poultry company that gathers 600,000 eggs per day. Everything is produced organically and with sustainability in mind. They are engaged with innovative practices of feeding algae, fermenting and mixing their own feed, creative composting, and more. We enjoyed some of their store products while discussing their farm and company before exploring their operation. 

We rounded out the evening at a local ramen noodles restaurant. After a spectacular meal some did a little shopping and exploring. 

Japan: Travel and Squid

 A group of 9 (7 students and 2 faculty/staff) from Hawkeye Community College are currently studying abroad in Japan hosted by our partners at the University of Yamanashi thanks to funding from Sakura Science. Twenty-nine hours of travel included a Hawkeye van, a couple flights, and a bus. After all of our travel we grabbed some food and beverages from a local store and are settling into our hotel before our first full day on the ground tomorrow. Some grabbed traditional snacks such as chips, ham, candy, etc., while others got more adventurous with lobster flavored crab cakes and dried squid. 

Wild Plants

This week we dive into wild plants. While you may not be aware of them there is a good chance that you come across them from time to time. We invite you to read the linked story and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations around the globe. 

Five plants hidden in our everyday lives 

Discussion Points

• Were you aware of the wild plants before reading this story or were they new to you? Elaborate on your response.
• Of the five wild plants shared which do you believe you might encounter the most in your life (or could encounter)? If this plant became lost from our world, how might it impact you and others?
• The story shares the challenge wild plants face due to habitat loss and climate change. What would you suggest to mitigate these challenges and protect wild plants?
• The end of the story challenges us to "spread the word" regarding wild plants. What are different ways you might be able to share the story of wild plants with others?

Improving Forests Around the Globe

Forests play important parts in our everyday lives and can help combat climate change and biodiversity loss. Travel with us to Kenya and Finland to learn about forestry and how it is improving the environment and economic conditions in each respective country. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations with others around the globe!

State of the World's Forests 2022

Discussion Points

• Explain the three pathways that conserve and support recovery of forests shared by the FAO. Is one pathway more important than others? Share your reasonings. 
• Discuss the stories of forestry in Kenya. What surprised you the most and why?
• Explain what CLT is from Finland. What are the benefits of CLT? 
• What does forestry management look like in your home area? How does forestry management in your home area compare to Kenya, Finland, and other places around the globe?

Schools and Food Security

Schools have the potential of providing students with adequate and nutritious food, while also providing education to strengthen food security in their local communities and globally. The linked video below explores how schools can contribute to food security and nutrition. We invite you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe. 

Schools can contribute to making the right to food a reality

Discussion Points

• How can schools directly and indirectly impact food security and nutrition?
• Of the ways that schools can impact food security and nutrition highlighted in the video, which do you find the most important? Are there any ways highlighted that surprised you? Explain your reasonings.
• Reflect on schools in your local area. Do they contribute to food security? What are nutritional standards? How does your school compare to schools in different parts of the world?

Improving Production, Nutrition, Environment, and Life in Panama

Panama is making great strides in improving its agriculture production and practices in collaboration with others. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations created the video linked below to share Panama's story. We encourage you to watch the video and utilize the discussions points below to strike up conversations with others around the globe. 

Panama Advances

Discussion Points

• Examine the video footage? What do you notice about everyday life and agriculture in Panama? What is similar and different from your home area?
• Throughout the video, four main points are shared in blue text: Better production, Better nutrition, Better environment, and Better life. How do these four areas tie together? What does this look like in Panama? Who does this look like in your home region?
• Of all the initiatives and projects highlighted in the video which ones do you feel could have the greatest impact and why?

Climbing Commodity Prices and Food Insecurity in a Complex World

A recent report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the United States Department of Agriculture shares the interconnected complex issues driving up commodity prices and food insecurity. We encourage you to read the linked report and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe. 

The Ukraine Conflict and Other Factors Contributing to High Commodity Prices and Food Insecurity

Discussion Points 

• What are the multiple complex challenges driving up commodity and food costs? Are you seeing these increases in your daily life?
• What ideas do you have to alleviate these rising commodity and food prices locally and in other locations around the globe? Provide support for your reasonings.
• What challenges face more vulnerable countries and populations around the globe?
• What worried you most from the article? What gave you hope? Explain your thoughts. 

Food Supply at Risk?

Our food system is a complicated and interconnected web of producers, suppliers, transporters, and consumers. The linked story from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations explores our food systems and potential risks and protections. We encourage you to explore the linked story and engage with others around the globe utilizing the discussion points provided. 

Is our food supply at risk? 

Discussion Points

• What are the three main components of the agri-food system and how do they interact?
• Diversity is mentioned as a key strategy to protect our food systems. What does this look like? Do you see diversity in your food systems locally and around the world (explain)?
• Using the interactive table in the story, what would happen if incomes were reduced by one-third? Consider your home area and other areas around the globe.
• Towards the end of the story several strategies are shared to protect food systems. Rank the strategies shared from most important to least important and share your reasoning. 

Ukraine - Russia Conflict Impact

Today we had virtual collaboration between individuals in Austria, Brazil, Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United States as part of a virtual exchange with the Global Agriculture Learning Center. Each month these students gather via Zoom to discuss topics in agriculture. In the past month the eyes of the world have turned to Ukraine. This morning students came together from several continents to share their experiences and insights around the ongoing conflict with Ukraine and Russia. We want to challenge all reading the blog to continue these conversations. Below you will find questions that we posed to the group that gathered and shared their responses this morning. 

Reflect and Discuss the Following:

• How is the ongoing conflict impacting you/us personally and professionally?
• How does the conflict influence agriculture (i.e. crop production, animal science, horticulture, viticulture, etc.)?
• How does the conflict influence biodiversity?
• What can we do to ensure food security?
• How might things change as a result of the conflict? What might be done differently or what opportunities may arise?

Global Collaboration

Global collaboration can often provide great benefits, but unfortunately does not always happen. This week we share a short video from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations highlighting cooperation between countries to improve rice value chains. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations with others around the globe. 

Republic of Korea South-South Cooperation 

Discussion Points

• The following quote is shared at the beginning of the video: "Sharing of knowledge, experiences, technologies, and resources among countries in the Global South is vital to achieve more sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems."
• Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
• While it mentions the Global South do you believe collaboration is needed or useful for countries not considered part of the Global South? Explain your thoughts.
• Does your home country collaborate and share agriculture information with other countries? 
• Do you think your home country could benefit from greater collaboration and sharing of information? Why or why not? 
• Can you think of examples outside of agriculture when cooperation, collaboration, and sharing of knowledge between countries has improved world conditions? 

Ukraine - Russia Conflict and Lebanon Wheat Worries

The Ukraine - Russia conflict is causing great upheaval and challenges in the region, but as we have seen in many instances the conflict is having impacts around the globe. One of the countries that is being impacted is Lebanon due to their reliance on wheat from Ukraine. We encourage you to read the linked article and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe.

Ukraine crisis worries Lebanon over its wheat reserves

Discussion Points

• Why is the conflict in Ukraine and potential wheat shortage so troubling to the country and people of Lebanon?
• Imagine you are a top diplomat with the Lebanon government. What might you do to ease fears and alleviate the problem? How and why would you go about things the way you would?
• How might the escalating conflict in Ukraine impact other countries around the globe including your home country?
• If countries outside of Ukraine are concerned about food insecurity what might food insecurity look like in Ukraine? In what multiple ways is Ukraine's food supply/system being impacted? 

Drought Hits Spain and Portugal

Both Spain and Portugal are facing reduced rainfall and drought that is impacting agriculture production in each country respectively. We encourage you to explore the linked article and reflect and discuss with others around the globe utilizing the discussion points shared below. 

Dry winter drains reservoirs, ruins crops in Spain, Portugal

Discussion Points

• What is happening in Spain and Portugal relating to weather and agriculture? What are the current and potential impacts (both in Europe, your home region, and/or around the world)?
• What from the article stuck with you and why?
• A number of photographs were shared providing visual context. What did you notice in these photos? What stood out to you?
• Is there anything that can be done to improve conditions in Spain and Portugal? What would you recommend? 

Desert Locusts

The Desert Locust is wreaking havoc in different parts of the world. We invite you to learn more about the Desert Locust and its impact on agriculture through an interactive story from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). After engaging with the interactive story utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations with others around the globe. 

A threat from the desert

Discussion Points

• What characteristics or traits make the Desert Locust so invasive to agriculture production?
• Of the characteristics shared which do you feel is the most troubling and why?
• Are you experiencing Desert Locusts in your home region? If so, what is the impact you are seeing? In not, are there other pests that are causing problems to agriculture production and if so, how?
• The FAO has tasked you with combating the increasing threat of the Desert Locust. How would you approach the challenge to mitigate or even eradicate the damage being done?

School Gardens in Jamaica

All around the world making sure that children have an adequate and nutritious food source is important. Today we look at a partnership in Jamaica that is addressing these needs through school gardens. We invite you to watch the linked video (4:44) and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations with others around the globe. 

School Gardens for Food Security in Jamaica

Discussion Points

• In watching the video, what did you notice about the scenes and video captured? How are conditions, buildings, crops, etc. similar and different to your home region? 
• In watching the video and reflecting, what challenges might the country of Jamaica face in feeding its people? How might one overcome these challenges?
• Do schools in your home region have a similar program with school gardens? If yes, what can you learn from each other (Jamaica school gardens and yours)? If no, could your school benefit from a similar program and why or why not?
• Discuss your final thoughts and take-a-ways from this video with others.

Fertilizer Prices Rise Globally

Fertilizer prices are up around the globe. The global rise in prices could set forth a chain of events impacting individuals around the globe. We invite you to review the linked Farm Policy News from the University of Illinois and reflect on the discussion points below with others. 

High Fertilizer Prices Impacting Developing Countries and Europe

Discussion Points

• What points shared were of most concern to you and why?
• What are the potential impacts of rising fertilizer costs around the globe? 
• Are farmers in your local area seeing an increase in fertilizer costs? If so, how are they reacting and what are the potential repercussions?
• You have been asked by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to advise and make recommendations to ease the rising price of fertilizer prices globally. What would you suggest? What are things that need to be taken into consideration?

Lowering Emissions in Agriculture

We invite you to explore a recently launched tool highlighting climate change mitigation in agriculture. The website is packed with information and resources to support learning and move individuals to action. The website is part of a program from CGIAR. CGIAR is a global research partnership focused on a food secure future. Check out the newly launched website below and reflect and discuss with others utilizing the discussion points provided. 

AgLED Resource Platform 

Discussion Points

• Take some time and explore the website. What page or resource do you find the most valuable to you in your local region? Did you find pages or tools that might be useful to other parts of the world? Share your findings with others if in a group setting. 
• One of the tools shared is the "Climate Action Tracker." Scroll down the home page to the "Find your country" section. What is your home country's rating and how does it compare to the rest of the world? What worries you about the map? What gives you optimism?
• As you explore the AgLED website what do you believe can be done in your local region, within agriculture, to lower emissions? Could these same actions be taken in different parts of the world or would different approaches be required?

The Queen of Oranges

This week we learn about the Maltese orange and the country of Tunisia. The Maltese orange, also known as the "Queen of Oranges", has a unique story highlighted in the article linked below. We invite you to read the linked story and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations with others around the globe. 

Tunisia's "Queen of Oranges"

Discussion Points

• What makes the Maltese orange's story unique and why?
• As Tunisia is known for the Maltese orange, is your home region known for certain famous foods or agricultural products? To what extent are the products identified exclusive to your home region?
• The Maltese orange has great cultural impacts on Tunisia. How does food impact our cultures or how do our cultures impact our food?
• Certain foods (or names of food) are grown/raised/produced in specific parts of the world, such as Prosciutto di Parma (ham) from Parma Italy. There have been discussions, and arguments, if specific naming rights of food products belong to certain regions of the world. Do you believe naming rights of food belong to specific regions or are they free to be grown anywhere in the world with the same label/name? Could the "Queen of Oranges" be reserved for Maltese oranges from Tunisia?

Small Actions = Big Impact

2022 has been named the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture. Linked below is video highlighting small scale fishers and fish farmers. We encourage you to watch the short video and reflect on the discussion points below with others around the globe. 

Small in scale, big in value

Discussion Points

• In watching the video:
• What did you notice? 
• What stuck out to you?
• The video shared the important balance between production and preserving ecosystems. How could this be done in regards to small scale fishers and fish farming? Is production and preserving ecosystems balanced in your local agriculture context? Explain your thoughts.
• The following statement is made in the video, "Include us in decisions that affect us..."
• Why do you think this statement was made?
• Do you believe this is an important statement? Why or why not?