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?

Improving Production, Nutrition, Environment, and Life in Panama

Panama is making great strides in improving its agriculture production and practices in collaboration with others. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations created the video linked below to share Panama's story. We encourage you to watch the video and utilize the discussions points below to strike up conversations with others around the globe. 

Panama Advances

Discussion Points

• Examine the video footage? What do you notice about everyday life and agriculture in Panama? What is similar and different from your home area?
• Throughout the video, four main points are shared in blue text: Better production, Better nutrition, Better environment, and Better life. How do these four areas tie together? What does this look like in Panama? Who does this look like in your home region?
• Of all the initiatives and projects highlighted in the video which ones do you feel could have the greatest impact and why?

GMOs Global Impact

The debate on GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) has been debated for years globally. CAST recently shared video and text titled "Gains Foregone by Going GMO Free: Potential Impacts on Consumers, the Environment, and Agricultural Producers." Cast is an international consortium of scientific and professional societies, universities, companies, nonprofits, libraries, and individuals who assemble, interpret, and communicate credible, unbiased, science-based information for all populations. Linked below is a one-page summary of the media regarding "Gains Foregone by Going GMO Free." We encourage you to investigate the document linked and utilize the discussion points to guide conversations with others around the globe.

Gains Forgone by Going GMO Free

Discussion Points

• How are GMOs viewed in your home region? Does this align with CAST's findings?
• What are the global impacts of GMOs? Consider health, environment, and poverty.
• In many Global South countries GMOs are not allowed. What are the impacts of these bans? 
• Do you believe science has been attacked lately (at home and/or around the globe)? Explain your reasoning and if you believe this is a problem what might be done?

Lao PDR Rice and Fish Production

Rice and fish may or may not be common agricultural commodities produced in your home region. Whether rice and fish production are common in your area or not there is a great chance that we all can reflect and learn from farmers in Lao PDR (Lao People's Democratic Republic). We encourage you to explore the linked story below and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations around the globe. 

Tapping into aquatic resources to lift rice production

Discussion Points

• The following quote was shared in the article. "In the past we used to farm in harmony with the environment. But now we have more pests, and we do not know how to cope with them." Do you agree with this statement? Would you respond differently in different parts of the world? What about your home region?
• The linked story mentions that diversification in agricultural production is good for the environment and helps reduce poverty. Why is this the case in Lao PDR? Do you think agriculture in your region could benefit from an increase in diversification? Explain your reasoning.
• The story shares how farmers benefited from sharing information. Do you see those in agriculture in your home area sharing data the way farmers have in Lao PDR? 
• What are your final thoughts regarding this global agriculture story? What are your main take-a-ways?

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?

Agriculture and Carbon

 At times some blame agriculture for climate issues, but the reality is that agriculture can be a driving solution regarding climate challenges. One of those many ways is through carbon sequestration. The linked article takes a look at carbon markets and agriculture. We encourage you to read the linked article and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations with others around the globe.

Clarity on Carbon's Potential

Discussion Points

• What did you find most interesting regarding the article and why?
• Several carbon market programs were shared. Which do you feel is the best program and why?
• This article primarily focused on the carbon programs in the United States. Execute an internet search. How are other countries looking at and approaching carbon markets relating to agriculture? Does it look different in different parts of the world?
• Carbon sequestration is one method farmers around the world improve the environment. Globally what are other ways that farmers are improving/protecting the environment?

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?

Rooftop Farming in Asia

 The largest rooftop farm in Asia is highlighted in the link below. This rooftop farm can produce over 20 tons of food annually. We encourage you to explore the piece linked and be sure to click on the cluster of images that will take you to a slide show with further information. We have provided discussion questions below to spark conversation with others around the globe.

Asia's Largest Organic Rooftop

Discussion Points

• What was most surprising and/or intriguing regarding the rooftop farm and why?
• Describe the different environmental benefits of this featured rooftop farm?
• Would a rooftop farm like this be accepted in your home country, state, or city? Why or why not?
• How could you take various concepts from this rooftop farm and utilize in different settings around your local community and/or around the world? Get creative!

Stop Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is a problem across the world. Recently the FAO shared a video providing what can be done to help decrease or stop soil pollution. We encourage you to watch the short video clip and utilize the discussion points below to guide conversations with others around the globe!

7 things you can do to stop soil pollution

Discussion Points

• Do you think soil pollution looks the same around the world (what causes it)? Explain your reasoning.
• Of the seven tactics shared to stop soil pollution which do you think could have the largest positive impact in your local community and also around the globe?
• Which of the seven tactics shared do you believe will be the toughest to implement in your local area and also globally? 
• Can you think of additional ways to decrease or stop soil pollution outside of the seven ideas shared? Explain your thoughts.

World Diets: Beef or beans?

Diets around the globe vary in their make up greatly. A recent study shows we need to cut down on the beef and increase the beans in our diets. However, this does not come without some controversy. We encourage you to read the article linked below and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations around the world!

Less Beef, More Beans. Experts Say the World Needs a New Diet.

Discussion Points

• What stuck out to you the most from this article and why?
• Besides health reasons what other factors determine diets around the world?
• There is a quote in the article that states, "The evidence is not as strong as it seems to be." Why is this statement made? 
• What are the ramifications to the world in general if there are massive shifts in diet? 
• If there were to be a major change in diets around the world how does this happen? How do you convince people of this?

World Soil Contamination

Our soil is such a valuable resource that often can go underappreciated. Soil contamination and pollution is a growing problem around the world and may not be from sources that you suspect. This week we share an article from the FAO highlighting this issue and provide discussion points to drive your conversations around the globe.

Increased Soil Contamination Puts Food Safety and Food Security at Risk

Discussion Points

• Why is soil contamination and pollution such a concern worldwide?
• What are the main causes of soil pollution and contamination?
• What can you do personally to help prevent soil pollution and contamination?
• What should be done bigger picture to prevent soil contamination and pollution (county, municipality, state, country, and world levels)?