Water and Agriculture

Water is vital to life and agriculture, but can be taken for granted by many. This week we explore the need to reduce water use in food production. The linked article takes us to Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan to share challenges and innovative techniques in water management. We encourage you to explore the article, videos, and links within the article. We have provided discussion points below to guide engagement in conversations with others around the globe.

Why our food needs to use less water

Discussion Points

• What was your biggest take away from exploring the article and why?
• What does water usage look like in your local area? Around your home country, Around the World? How is water usage for agriculture similar and different when comparing?
• Several innovative techniques were shared regarding water conservation and improvement. What are other possible techniques that could be implemented? Get creative!
• What is your reaction to this quote from the article? 
• “When we look at productivity, most of the time we look at land productivity, how much yield can be produced per hectare of land,” Chakrabarty says. “But maybe we need to look at how much yield can be produced by how many units of water.”
• What can you do personally to have a positive impact on water usage locally and/or globally?

International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

Earlier this week (September 29, 2020) the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Environmental Programme, and their partners recognized the first International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. In the linked article below food loss and waste issues, facts, solutions, and more are shared. We encourage you to read the linked release and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe.

Food Loss and Waste Must Be Reduced

Discussion Points

• Explain the difference between food loss and food waste. How does food loss and food waste look similar or different around the world?
• What surprised you the most from the article and why?
• Some solutions to reduce food loss and waste were shared in the article. Of these solutions which do you believe could have the greatest impact on reducing food loss and waste? Justify your reasoning.
• What can you do, where you are at today, to reduce food loss and waste?

More Food = More Water

We hear time and time again the need to produce more food sustainably as the population of our world continues to grow. One of the challenges that accompanies this is the need for more water or creative ways to capture water to be more efficient. Linked below is a short video that shares this challenge and possible solutions. We encourage you to watch the video and utilize the discussion points provided to guide conversations around the globe.

More food means more water to grow it...We need creative solutions.

Discussion Points

• Why is water so important to food production and our growing world population?
• There were several ways shared to increase the availability of water for food production (reclaimed water, rainwater harvesting, cloud seeding, desalination, and fog harvesting). Briefly descried each of these techniques. Complete additional research if needed. 
• Of the techniques shared which do you feel could be most beneficial in your area? Which may be most beneficial in different regions of the world? Consider cost, environmental implications, infrastructure, technology, education, etc.