Improving Forests Around the Globe

Forests play important parts in our everyday lives and can help combat climate change and biodiversity loss. Travel with us to Kenya and Finland to learn about forestry and how it is improving the environment and economic conditions in each respective country. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations with others around the globe!

State of the World's Forests 2022

Discussion Points

• Explain the three pathways that conserve and support recovery of forests shared by the FAO. Is one pathway more important than others? Share your reasonings. 
• Discuss the stories of forestry in Kenya. What surprised you the most and why?
• Explain what CLT is from Finland. What are the benefits of CLT? 
• What does forestry management look like in your home area? How does forestry management in your home area compare to Kenya, Finland, and other places around the globe?

Alex's Story: Kenyan Farmer

Linked below is a story of a young Kenyan farmer named Alex. He showcases challenges and successes that he has experienced. We encourage you to watch the linked video (about 1 minute) and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations with others around the globe.

Overcoming any challenge 

Discussion Points

• How has Alex taken his past work and incorporated those experiences with his current work?
• What is your take-away from this video and why?
• How is technology in agriculture used differently around the world? What does it look like in your home region compared to Kenya where Alex is?
• Alex had the tools and knowledge from his past work to incorporate into his current farming work. How do we empower others that may not have had past work experiences as Alex did? How might we achieve this?

COVID-19 and Kenyan Agriculture

COVID-19 has impacted everyone around the globe including those in Kenya engaged with agriculture. There have certainly been challenges, but also success stories involving innovation and determination. Three stories from around Kenya are shared below. We encourage you to watch all three short videos and engage with others utilizing the discussion points provided. 

Mwatate Smallholder Tomato Farmers

Taveta Smallholder Banana Farmers

Voi Smallholder Farmers and Micro Gardens

Discussion Points

• What are the challenges facing smallholder farmers in Kenya as a result of COVID-19?
• How are smallholder farmers in Kenya being innovative to overcome challenges they are facing due to COVID-19?
• As a result of watching the videos what surprised you? What did you learn? What were your big takeaways?
• Is COVID-19 impacting farmers and agriculture in your home area? How does what you are seeing (or not seeing) in your area relate to the situation in Kenya?

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? 

Farming Kenya Style

Julia Dieckman from Muscatine Community College and myself are exploring opportunities in Kenya. Check out the video below to see what we are up to in Kenya and for the challenge we have for you to discuss in coffee shops, classrooms, and communities around the globe.

Recap of challenge questions from video:

• If you were starting a demonstration farm in Kenya what is the first thing you would do and why?
• Do some research! What are innovative practices and techniques you could share at a demonstration farm in Kenya or a tropical agriculture setting?
• How might a demonstration farm look in your home area? What are the similarities and differences you might find when comparing to a demonstration farm in Kenya?

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?

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?

Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenya

Antibiotics are a tool that farmers and producers can use to battle sickness and disease with their livestock. But like many things in this world, if a good thing is overused or abused there can be harmful results. This is the case with antimicrobial resistance. Often times developing countries can be at a much higher risk of antimicrobial resistance for a variety of reasons. The linked video from the FAO shows how farmers in Kenya are protecting against antimicrobial resistance.

AMR in Kenya - Rising to the Challenge

Discussion Points

• What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)? If someone walked up to you on the street and asked you what AMR is and why it is a concern what would you tell them?
• What are farmers in Kenya doing to combat and protect against AMR? Of these practices which do you feel is most important and why?
• In the video it stated that developing countries are at a higher risk of AMR. Why is this?
• The "one health" concept mentioned in the video calls on everyone to fight AMR. Why is this so important? How do we get everyone to "buy in" to fighting AMR?

Kenya on the GMO Brink

GMO's have always been controversial around the globe. The controversy in Kenya is as strong as ever. The linked article below from AgWeb highlights the "Global Farmer Network" blog and features a piece by a farmer from Kenya. We encourage you to read over the linked article and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations around the globe.

Is it Time for Kenya to Move Off the Brink and Lead with Agricultural Technology

Discussion Points

• What is the current status of GMO's in Kenya?
• What case does this farmer make for the need for GMO's in Kenya?
• What was the most surprising fact or thought you took from this article? Explain.
• Do some additional research: 
• How are GMO's perceived around the world in different continents and countries?
• What does science say about GMO's?