Food Supply at Risk?

Our agrifood systems are being challenged daily by a variety of factors. Linked below is a story that provides the opportunity to explore agrifood systems and the challenges that they face. We encourage you to explore the linked story below, from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and strike up conversations with others around the globe. 

Is our food supply at risk?

Discussion Points

• What surprised you most from exploring this story and why?
• There are many factors that can stress our agrifood systems (i.e. pandemic, climate, conflict, logistics, etc.). Which factor/s do you believe provide/s the greatest threats to our agrifood systems and why?
• An emphasis of "diversity" was described to protect our agrifood systems. Do you see this diversity (as described) in the agrifood systems where you live? Is there potential room for greater diversity?
• Towards the end of the story there is a section on, what can be done to improve and protect agrifood systems. Of these ideas shared which do you feel is the best tactic for your home area? Does this look different in other areas of the world? Explain your reasonings.

World Food Prize Twitter Exploration

It is World Food Prize week! This is a time when world leaders gather to tackle the challenges around food insecurity. The Borlaug International Dialogue has so many engaging sessions throughout the week. Many of these sessions' main points are highlighted via Twitter and can be found by following #FoodPrize21. Many topics are covered including sustainable agriculture, research and innovation, gender equity, climate change, best practices, and much more. If you are on Twitter grab your phone and search #FoodPrize21. If you are not a Twitter user you can still follow the conversation via this link as long as posts are not protected/private.

We encourage you to explore the Tweets that have the hashtag #FoodPrize21 and complete the challenges below. You may discuss your findings/thoughts with others or quote retweet and start a conversation online.

• Find a #FoodPrize21 tweet that you agree with. Explain why this is the case for yourself.
• Find a #FoodPrize21 tweet that you disagree with or question. Why is this the case?
• Find a #FoodPrize21 tweet that surprises you and you would like to explore further. Why did this Tweet grab your attention?

Keep in mind that throughout this week Tweets will continue to be posted. Return often to explore further conversations!

Importance of Global Engagement

This week has been busy with emphasis on global engagement. At the beginning of the week I participated in the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education conference. So much great content and research was shared. In one of the breakouts a conversation around the benefits of Farmer to Farmer exchanges was discussed. It was noted that there were great benefits to both the visiting and hosting farmers. 

Today a group of students from Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States voluntarily gathered either early morning (in the USA) or late in their school day (in Denmark and the Netherlands). they discussed cultural and agricultural topics. This morning I also engaged in discussion with a United States Congresswoman regarding the importance of the United States leadership globally and the international affairs budget.

There is often debate around one countries presence on the global stage and why are we/they (or are we/they not) engaging with others internationally? Why should what is happening abroad bother us? We encourage you to reflect and engage in conversation with others utilizing the discussion points below. 

Discussion Points

• Do you believe it is important for your home country to engage with other nations globally? Why or why not? What is there to be gained? What is there to lose?
• In reflecting on the farmer to farmer exchanges and student virtual exchanges mentioned above in relation to agriculture, what are the benefits? Why would a farmer travel across the world to connect with another farmer? Why would college students climb out of bed for a 7:00 AM meeting?
• Do you believe it is important to financially support and/or invest in other countries? What does this look like in regards to agriculture, but also other areas such as health, conflict, etc.?
• When worldwide challenges face us do you believe it is more important to close off or reach out? Explain your thoughts. 

Global Agricultural and Food Markets

The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations launches September 23rd. In leading up to it's launch a couple personnel with the FAO highlight some key points and challenges facing us. We encourage you to watch the linked videos below and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe!

Interview with Maximo Torero

Interview with George Rapsomanikis

Discussion Points

• After watching the two videos what stuck with you? What was alarming? Why?
• What were some of the food/hunger challenges mentioned in the videos?
• Why is global trade so important to our food systems? What is the benefit of reducing trade barriers for the food system?
• If we reduce trade barriers for the food system is there the possibility for unintended consequences? Does this look different depending which country you call home? Explain your thoughts?

Fishermen Dilemma

Making a living as a fisherman is becoming tougher in the United States. This is due to many complex reasoning's. Linked below is a story by Market to Market on the challenges facing fishermen in the United States and compares their practises and techniques to fishermen globally. You are encouraged to watch the video linked below and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations around the world.

Fishermen Seek Level Playing Field Internationally

Discussion Points

• What are the challenges facing fishermen in this story?
• How do fishing practises around the globe differ? 
• In your personal opinion do you believe rules and regulations regarding fishing should change or be updated? Provide support for your reasoning.
• What do you feel is the largest challenge facing fishermen around the globe in the next 50 years? 

Global Food Crises

The 2019 Global Food Crises report is now available. This week we share a story from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) which gives an overview of the report as well as links to the full report from the Food Security Information Network. Along with the article FAO also shares a short video recap of the report. Both are linked below. We encourage you to check out the material shared and utilize the discussion points to guide further conversations.

FAO Article

FAO Video

FSIN Full Report

Discussion Points

• What pieces of information or facts surprised you the most and why?
• There are a couple major factors mentioned contributing to global hunger. Which of these do you feel provides the greatest threat and why?
• Of the factors mentioned, contributing to global hunger, which do you think is the easiest to combat and why?
• What can be done to decrease global hunger around the world? What can we do as individuals to help reduce global hunger? 

Global Learning in Agriculture

This blog post is coming to you from State College, Pennsylvania home of Penn State University. I am in town as part of the Global Learning in Agriculture Conference hosted by Global Teach Ag! This is an online conference happening Friday afternoon, but leading up to the capstone conference we have had weekly round table discussions and on-demand presentations revolving around bringing global agriculture to classrooms, utilizing technology, global agriculture in a domestic setting, and reaching diverse learners. As the week has gone on we have come across some interesting trends and points that educators, extension personnel, and agriculture professionals have discussed. I want to share some of these intriguing questions below and encourage the conversations to continue in your classrooms, coffee shops, and communities around the world. In fact you can even join the conference discussion on Twitter utilizing the hashtag #GLAG18!

Discussion Points

• Is it important to learn about agriculture at a global level? Explain your responses.
• Recently in our society and in countries around the world the word "agriculture" has picked up a bad stigma. Dr. Daniel Foster made the following statement, "Often, when talking to high school students, I ask them if they are interested in Ag and they say no. When I ask them if they want to work in food, with fiber, or to help solve natural resource issues...they say YES." Think about that for a minute. How have we gotten to this point? What can be done to overcome this?
• Tonight we had a great discussion about reaching and working with diverse learners and populations. It was noted time and time again that before anything trust must be established. What do you feel is the best way to gain trust with diverse learners/populations and why is this so important? 

Global Agriculture Watch

There is a lot happening in agriculture markets around the world. A link below provides a look around the globe concerning agriculture supply and demand and potential impacts on markets. While it focuses on impacts to the United States markets you can apply the information to all markets around the world. We encourage you to read the article linked below and utilize the discussion points provided to guide conversations in your classrooms and communities around the globe.

Global Game-Changers

Discussion Points

• Brazil and Argentina agriculture look to have great impact on United States markets. What will these impacts be and why respectively for each country?
• Outside of Brazil and Argentina of the countries and scenarios listed which do you feel will have the most positive impact on your home country and why?
• Outside of Brazil and Argentina of the countries and scenarios listed which do you feel will have the most negative impact on your home country and why?
• Which country's scenario do you find the most intriguing and why?

Doomsday Vault Opened

Recently scientists have had to open the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (known as the "Doomsday Seed Vault") to retrieve seeds to continue experiments and recoup lost seeds and research. The link below provides great information on the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. It includes videos, text, and further links to the website for Svalbard. The video (2:40) at the top of the page does a great job of explaining the purpose of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and why it is needed today. There is a second video (1:16) farther down the page that gives a quick overview of seed vaults in general while focusing on Svalbard.  I encourage you to explore the information provided and use the discussion points below to guide your conversations.

Arctic Doomsday Vault Opens

Discussion Points

• What is the purpose or why do we need the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (seed vaults in general)?
• What has caused the Svalbard Global Seed Vault to be opened?
• There is a focus on diversity of seeds and crops. Why is it important to preserve this diversity in the interest of global food security?
• The seed vault has many varieties and/or crops that may not exist in nature today. Why is this important?

Borlaug Dialogue Kicks Off!

Today was a spectacular day as the Borlaug Dialogue kicked off in Des Moines, Iowa as part of the World Food Prize. The afternoon was filled with key issues facing Global Hunger and Agriculture. I will share key points from the various sessions. Our goal is that you will discuss these points and have the conversations grow from Des Moines to around the globe.

Kenneth Quinn kicked off the afternoon with a recap of the events of the past year for the World Food Prize. He, also, noted the theme for this years dialogue as "Borlaug 101." It was evident from the start that this is going to be an awesome learning experience for all involved.

Opening Keynote: Chelsea Clinton

• We have a crisis that will only be amplified as our population grows. Feeding our world.
• Investing and empowering women is not just the right thing, but the smart thing to do.
• Women farmers should not just be participants, but leaders.
• 1 in 3 children in Africa are food insecure.
• We must tackle child nutrition issues.

Empowering Women and Girls Through STEM Education: Catherine Bertini, Chelsea Clinton, Michiel Bakker, Robert Fraley, Honorable Kim Reynolds, and Mary Wagner

• About 3 million students will be involved in STEM programs in school, but many more are needed.
• It has been found that in math and science classrooms teachers start calling on girls less and less as they go through school.
• Three states in the United States did not even have one female take an AP computer exam.
• We must change the structures of classrooms to be more hands on.
• We must have a balanced education from arts to general education to STEM.
• Farmers in the United States spend 10-15 minutes a year controlling weeds in an acre of land, where in Africa a farmer may spend 2-3 months managing weeds in an acre area. This is why STEM education is important.
• A challenge for all: Make it a priority to create a list of women and men that you will mentor. Being a mentor is important!

The Ebola Crisis: One Year Later: Monty Jones and H.E. Florence Chenoweth

• Now Ebola has a 70% survival rate.
• Ebola hit the four breadbasket areas of Africa.
• Ebola brought out the true resilience in Africa. We will rebuild!
• Since October 4th Liberia has been declared Ebola free.
• Africa must focus on getting back to where we were before Ebola hit. This includes everything: schools, health, agriculture, etc.
• With communication Ebola could have been controlled better, but we had no idea what to communicate when it hit.

University of California Davis World Food Center: Launcing a New Initiative - Food For a Healthy World: Roger Beachy, Joseph Glauber, Christine Stewart, Daniel Sumner

• Health transition mirrors economic transformation.
• Food prices have eased over the last 12 months.
• New population projections are showing 9.6 billion by 2050.
• Bio-fuel demand has slowed since 2011 and future growth will depend on energy prices.
• Globally child stunting is decreasing, but obesity is slowly increasing.
• Poor quality diets are the leading cause of illness and mortality globally.
• Food supply does not meet nutrient requirements or adequate dietary diversity.
• We must place a priority on nutrient rich crops.
• We must involve agriculturists in nutrition.
• Import and export barriers and subsidies hurt the poor and hinder efficiency of agriculture.

We concluded the evening by making our way to the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates where Eric Pohlman was awarded the Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application. This provided an excellent opportunity to network with others and explore the Hall of Laureates.

Check back Thursday and Friday evenings as the conversations continue!