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?

Fish in the Desert

You would not expect to find fish in the desert, but that is exactly the case in the United Arab Emirates. Innovation has led to aquaculture with great potential for growth. The article linked below highlights this project. We encourage you to read the article and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations with others around the globe.

Fishing for change in the Emirati desert

Discussion Points

• What from the article was intriguing to you and why?
• What about the project has you asking further questions? What are your questions? Discus with a peer.
• There is great potential to increase production for this project. What do you feel is the best way to expand production? Explain your plan and reasoning.
• Fish production in the desert is an innovative and contrarian approach. What are other innovative ideas that might be possible around the globe in agriculture?

Agriculture in Lao PDR

This week we travel virtually to Lao People's Democratic Republic in southeastern Asia. We explore the countryside and agriculture projects being implemented via the video linked below. We encourage you to utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations with others around the globe!

Agriculture Projects in LAO PDR

Discussion Points

• As you watch the video how does agriculture in Lao PDR and your local area share similarities and differences?
• Training and education are mentioned often throughout the video. How would a lack of training impact these initiatives and why?
• Of the six initiatives shared which one do you feel can have the greatest positive impact and why?
• What can you take and/or learn from this video and utilize in your local area?

Water and Agriculture

 There are so many important aspects to agriculture, but water is by far one of the most important. Travel around the world in the video linked below to discover the challenges and opportunities facing us around water and agriculture. Utilize the discussion points below to strike up conversations with others around the globe.

Overcoming Water Challenges in Agriculture

Discussion Points

• In the video several factors are shared that are leading to scarcity or higher pressure on water systems. What are these factors and which one do you feel creates the largest challenge and why?
• Likewise, several opportunities or solutions are provided as well. Identify the top solutions and explain your reasonings?
• Does water usage in agriculture look different around the world? What are those in agriculture doing to conserve and protect water in your local region? How does this differ in other parts of the world?
• Agriculture can sometimes be blamed for environmental/waters problems. How do we make sure that agriculture is part of the solution and that this story is told?

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.

Water is Life

Water is life. This is truly illustrated in the cisterns for the Sahel project through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Below we have linked a video that explains this program and how it is impacting farmers production, families, and way of life. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe.

Empowering Women Through Access to Water

Discussion Points

• What piece of information surprised you the most from the video?
• How does water empower people?
• What do you feel could be done to improve this program even farther? How do you accomplish this?
• What can you learn from this video that could impact your local community where you live?

Wastewater Farming Contorversy

A new water treatment plant is coming to Mexico. Most would see this as a good thing, however some are not so happy. The water that will be treated is currently a fertilizer source for a group of farmers in Mexico. Read through the article linked below and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations around the globe. 

Mexico Fears a New Plant Will Kill Wastewater Farming

Discussion Points

• Explain the benefits of wastewater farming.
• Explain the problems with wastewater farming.
• What past historical event or events complicate this situation more?
• After reading this article what would your recommendation by and why? Plant, no plant, compromise, or something else?
• This situation is an excellent example of how something that can benefit so many can have a negative impact on others. Can you think of other examples of this? 

Farming the Desert

This week we take a look at the efforts in Egypt to increase agriculture productivity to feed a growing country, continent, and world. There are many challenges facing farmers and the linked article gives some insight into what is happening in Egypt. Read the linked article and use the discussion points below to guide your conversations.

Farming the Sahara

Discussion Points

• While the market in El Obour is buzzing with activity and goods why is Egypt facing a domestic food shortage?
• What is the government doing to address this crisis?
• Why are some concerned that the current plan from President Abdel and the government will fail?
• Explain the issues around water availability in Egypt.
• When Egypt does produce Ag products they often end up in the European Union. Why is this the case? What are the impacts of this?
• Create a list of challenges that are facing agriculture in Egypt.
• How can these challenges be overcome?
• Which do you feel is the biggest challenge facing agriculture in Egypt?
• Do you believe that Egypt will overcome these challenges and find success? Justify your response.