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.

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

Today we highlight Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). Linked below is a short video from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that highlights GIAHS and the important rolls they play. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe!

Preserving these ancestral agricultural systems is vital for the future of food!

Discussion Points

• Explain what a GIAHS is. Feel free to do additional research if needed.
• What are examples of GIAHS shared in the video as well as additional GIAHS? Are there any GIAHS in your local community?
• Four benefits of GIAHS are shared in the video (provide food and livelihood security, promote agrobiodiversity, preserve natural resources, and promote agro-tourism). Explain how GIAHS provides these benefits.
• Of the four benefits mentioned in the video and above which do you feel is most important and why?

Pork and China's Growing Demand for Protein

China has a growing demand for protein. How will China meet this growing demand? The National Pork Board in the United States has provided some input on this challenge and further information is detailed in the link below. We encourage you to read the linked news release and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations around the globe.

National Pork Board Study Defines China's Growing Need for Protein

Discussion Points

• Why is China's need for protein on the rise? 
• Why is there a great potential for the United States and China to look at trade in the pork sector at the current time?
• It would be nice if the United States could simply send pork to China as demand increases, but there are often other factors that influence this ease. What other factors may be challenging at the current time? How do those involved overcome these factors?
• The following quote is shared in the release by David Newman, "One of the ways to build value is to expand U.S. pork exports in developed and emerging markets." Where do you see potential for U.S. pork exports to expand and why?