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?

Conservation Agriculture in Mozambique

Farmers in Mozambique are implementing conservation agriculture practices and finding great success. A video linked below from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations highlights a project that is increasing conservation agriculture projects. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points to engage with others around the globe!

Scaling up conservation agriculture in Mozambique

Discussion Points

• What surprised you most from the video and why?
• Describe the three principles of conservation agriculture shared in the video?
• Are these principles that are just useful in Mozambique or are they principles that could be useful in your home region as well? Explain your reasoning/thoughts.
• Are there other best practices shared from the video that could be implemented in other parts of the world? If so, what practices and where? Could you adapt some best practices shared to have even a greater impact?

Developing a Market in Oldonyiro

You can produce an abundance of an agriculture commodity, but if there is no market for your product there can be major problems. This week we take a look at a project by USAID in Oldonyiro, Kenya to empower others through the development of a market. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to engage with others in conversation around the globe via Zoom, Skype, phone calls, email, etc.

A Place to Trade

Discussion Points

• What do you notice from the video? How do you purchase food and livestock in your home area? What are the similarities and differences?
• Explain the benefits that have followed the development of this market. Of the benefits which do you feel has had the biggest impact and why?
• In regards to the Sustainable Development Goals which goals are or have been addressed due to this project?
• How might the current situation with COVID-19 be impacting this market? 

Locust Attack

Desert Locusts are swarming parts of Africa. They are causing threats that have not been seen at these magnitudes for years. Below you will find links to a written story and video highlighting the situation. We encourage you to explore both links and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations around the globe.

Article: Alarm Over Desert Locusts Increases

Video: Alarm Over Desert Locusts Increases in Horn of Africa

Discussion Points

• What is the impact that desert locusts are having in Africa currently? What is the outlook?
• What information shared in the article and/or video is most alarming in your opinion and why?
• The last thirty seconds of the video highlights action items. Of the action items shared which do you feel could have the greatest potential impact to combat the locusts and why?
• How might this locust infestation in Africa impact you in your local region?

Fighting Desertification

There is a need in different parts of the world to restore drylands and degraded lands. There is a project being orchestrated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that is tackling this challenge. The linked video below explains what is being done and some of the results. We invite you to view the video linked below and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations around the globe!

Action Against Desertification

Discussion Points

• Explain desertification.
• What is being done to stop desertification across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific?
• Why is it important to stop desertification? Is it only beneficial at a local level or to all around the globe? Explain your thoughts.
• Even if you are not from Africa, the Caribbean, or the Pacific are their techniques and lessons that you can take from this video in your home area? What are your takeaways?

Soybeans Across Africa

Soybeans are a crop growing around the world with great potential over the continent of Africa. Linked below is a blog post from The Chicago Council on Global Affairs regarding soybean production and maximizing yields across Africa. We encourage you to read the linked post and utilize the discussion points provided to guide conversations around the globe.

Maximizing the Yield Potential of Soybean in Africa

Discussion Points

• How has soybean production across the world and Africa changed in the past 30 years?
• What is "input bundling" and why is it important?
• What pests and challenges face soybean production across Africa? Do you find the same pests/challenges in your home region?
• If you were the leader of an initiative to increase soybean production across Africa what initiatives and plans would you implement? How would you increase yields and production in Africa? What challenges might you face and how would you overcome them?

Fish Fashion

We strive to find ways to be more efficient and utilize our resources wisely. This week we highlight a story that shares how a group in Kenya are turning an unused resource from fish production for food into a valuable resource to create more jobs and improve the environment. Check out the linked video below and utilize the discussion points to guide conversations around the globe!

Turning Fish into Fashion

Discussion Points

• After watching the video what surprised you the most about Blue Fashion and this process?
• Many benefits were shared in the video. What are the benefits of this process? Of these benefits which do you feel has the biggest impact and why?
• Do you think Blue Fashion products would be accepted in your home community? Why or why not?
• What are the possibilities? What are other ways that we can use wasted or under utilized resources like this? Brainstorm ideas. Nothing is too crazy. Who would have thought Blue Fashion the first time they heard it?

African Agriculture Potential

This week we take a look at an article that was published last July, but the content still holds strong today. It discusses the challenges facing agriculture in Africa and the potential that agriculture has in Africa to pull many out of poverty. We encourage you to read the linked article and watch the short video included and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations around the world!

African Farmers Turn a Field into Data

Discussion Points

• Why is Africa so intriguing when it comes to food production and feeding its own people?
• The article states that agriculture is 11 times more effective to reduce extreme poverty than any other sector. Explain why you feel agriculture is so effective in decreasing poverty?
• The article and video share the challenge of getting youth involved in agriculture. What is your solution to this problem? Justify your response.
• What was the most interesting fact or thought that you took away from the linked article and why?

Wheat Rust on the Attack

Over the past year we have seen the spread of old and new wheat rust strains around the world. The linked article below shares information on the area of impact, ramifications, and much more in regards to wheat rust. We encourage you to read the linked article and then utilize the discussion points below to spark conversation around the globe!

Spread of Damaging Wheat Rust Continues 

Discussion Points

• Explain the recent trend of wheat rust around the globe.
• What parts of the world/countries are being impacted?
• Why is this so troubling?
• Why is it so important that we have global collaboration in battling wheat rust (or any challenge facing agriculture for that matter)?
• The article explains the direct impact that wheat rust is having in Asia, Europe, and Africa. What other impacts is or could wheat rust have on global wheat prices and production? How is or could this affect wheat prices and production in your home country?
• Brainstorm ways to control and/or stop the damage being done by wheat rust. Reflect on the resources needed and challenges facing your thoughts and how to meet these respective needed resources and challenges.

Borlaug Dialogue Closes: Take Action

Today was the third and final day of the World Food Prize and Borlaug Dialogue for us. It was a great three days of learning and we are excited to tackle the challenge of feeding approximately 10 million people by 2050. Once again we have highlights from sessions from day three below. Utilize the points below to keep the conversations going and from there take action to feed our growing world.

Here is a picture of the four Laureates for this year on the stage this morning explaining their project with sweet potatoes.

Breakfast Keynote Address: Liam Condon

• Diversity is crucial in agriculture.
• When offering solutions in agriculture they must fit with local culture.
• "For he who has health, has hope and he who has hope, has everything." Thomas Carlyle

The Challenge of Change: Engaging Public Universities to Feed the World

• We need to focus more on interdisciplinary work and collaboration.
• We need to focus on problems rather than disciplines.
•  This is a global agenda and will take global partnerships.

Women Leaders Driving Science and Innovation for Agricultural Transformation in Africa

• People don't trust traditional knowledge.
• Women scientists face the challenge of validating themselves.
• We must bring mechanization to women in Africa.

A Conversation with the 2016 World Food Prize Laureates

• We must keep our eye on the goal. Improve dietary quality.
• If you are speaking different languages you'll be doing different things. (Scientific versus arts, etc.)
• Having both parties in the same room isn't enough. They also must listen to each other.

Celebrating 30 Years of the Borlaug-Sasakawa/World Food Prize Legacy

• We have to be ready for anything and everything.
• Norm's Keys to Success
• He was passionate
• He never gave up
• He kept it simple
• We must be on the ground battling everyday to solve world hunger. Do it and do it on the ground/in the fields.

While this may have concluded the 30th World Food Prize and Borlaug Dialogue please do not let your conversations around the world stop. Keep the dialogue going and take action to tackle the challenges in front of us!

African Agricultural Development

Recently the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations held a side event at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development that highlighted agriculture development as a key tool in providing peace and resolve to conflicted areas in Africa. Read the linked article summarizing this event below and utilize the discussion points provided to spark conversations around the globe!

No Peace Without Freedom From Want

Discussion Points

• The director of the FAO emphasized the importance of agriculture development in keeping peace and resolving conflict. How would you justify this statement (how does agriculture do this)?
• Why is the UN so focused on bringing peace to this area (what percentage of UN peacekeeping missions take place in this area)?
• What successes have been seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo in regards to agriculture development? Do you believe these success can be duplicated throughout Africa? Explain your reasoning.
• Explain what the Initiative for Food and Nutrition Security in Africa is focused on. In your mind what needs to be done to make sure this initiative is successful?
• Why do you believe Tokyo would be so interested in African development?

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.

Climate Agreement and Agriculture

Everywhere you look in the media lately you see news on the new agreement coming out of Paris regarding climate change. This will no doubt have an impact on farmers and agriculture around the globe. Review the linked article and use the discussion points provided below to guide your conversations in your classrooms and communities around the world.

Can the Paris agreement protect farmers?

Discussion Points

• What is the African farmer, Purity, doing to overcome and battle climate change on her farm?
• What can agriculture success and improvement mean to small farm families in developing countries?
• What are the expected ramifications of climate change on the Philippines in the coming years?
• Traditionally why has agriculture been left out of climate negotiations? 
• Why is the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) welcoming this recent agreement in Paris?
• Why are small farmers (especially those in developing countries) more at risk to climate change than larger farmers (in developed countries)?

Additional challenge:

We often hear the doom and gloom projections of climate change and it's impact on agriculture and food production. On my recent trip to Nicaragua I was told that it is projected that by 2050 no coffee would be grown in the region I was visiting, that heavily relies on coffee production, due to a warming climate. I am an optimist. This statement is assuming that everything will stay constant and no change/adaptations will be made. My first thought is what can we do to change this trend? And this is my question for you to think about, discuss, and take action. What can we do to change this trend?