Bangladesh Farmers Go Digital

Smart phones loaded with different apps have become a norm for many around the globe. This week we travel to Bangladesh to learn about the Digital Bangladesh initiative and how it is creating a digital transformation through the use of apps and other technology. We encourage you to watch the short video linked below and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations around the world.

Digital Village in Bangladesh

Discussion Points (We encourage you to watch the video twice. Once focusing on the text and the other focusing on the video footage.)

• What did you find interesting about this video/content and why?
• When you focused on the video footage versus the text what did you notice about agriculture in Bangladesh? How is it similar or different than agriculture in your home region? What unique challenges might Bangladesh face that you do not and vice versa?
• The video highlighted the use of apps by farmers in Bangladesh. Do farmers in your region utilize apps in their work? How do you think the use of apps are similar and/or different in Bangladesh and your home region?
• Do farmers in your home region receive similar help/training with apps and technology? Compare and contrast the assistance/training. 

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?

Locusts? There's an App for that!

A couple weeks ago we shared a piece on locusts swarming the horn of Africa and threatening major damage. This week we highlight an App that is addressing the problem. We encourage you to read the linked article below and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations around the globe.

Farmers to Tackle Locust Swarms Armed with New App

Discussion Points

• Explain how this newly developed App is helping farmers battle locust swarms. 
• Can this same or similar technology be used to benefit other areas of agriculture and the world? Explain your thoughts.
• Apps are an everyday part of many people's lives. If you could create any App that would benefit agriculture share what the App would do, how it would benefit the agricultural world, and why it is needed. 

High Tech Pig Farmers

Farmers are utilizing new technology to track and keep records on the pigs they are raising to add value and increase markets. The linked article, from the FAO, below highlights this new technology and practice being implemented in Papua New Guinea. We encourage you to read the linked article and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations around the globe. 

Pig Farmers in Papua New Guinea Capitalize on Blockchain Technology

Discussion Points

• Explain how blockchain technology is utilized by smallholder farmers in Papua New Guinea.
• What benefits is this technology providing to smallholder farmers?
• What challenges do you see arising with the implementation of this technology on a wide spread basis? How do we overcome these challenges?
• Could similar technology be utilized for other applications around the globe? Why or why not? 

Robotic Weeder

Technology is becoming more and more integrated into our lives every day. This week we highlight a video showcasing new technology being developed in Switzerland called the ecoRobotix. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points provided to spark conversations around the globe!

ecoRobotix Video in English

Discussion Points

• There are many benefits listed in the video to utilizing ecoRobotix. Of the benefits shared which do you feel is the most important and why?
• How would this technology be received in your home country/area? Do you think it might be received differently in different countries/regions? Explain.
•  Do you see any issues or ways to improve this technology?
• Think outside the box. What other technology could we create and utilize in agriculture to improve efficiency, production, and sustainability?

European Scientists Call for Change

A recent report put out by scientists in Europe is calling for analysis and change in our agriculture systems. I have linked an article below that shares some of their findings and calls for action. We encourage you to read over the linked article and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations in your clasrrooms and communities around the globe!

Call for Urgent Action on Food Security

Discussion Points

• Why do these scientists see a need for change in our agriculture systems? How do they justify these needed changes?
• Under the heading "Food consumption will need to change to improve consumer health:" there are several points shared for change. Of these which do you feel has the greatest potential for change and impact? Explain your response.
• Under this same heading which do you feel has the least potential for change and why?
• There are many scientific advancements and technologies that can attribute to a change in our agriculture systems mentioned in this article. Which practice/technology stuck out to you as the most promising?Justify your response.
• Overall what was your take-a-ways from this article? Do you agree? Disagree? Why?

Information Technologies Key to Farmers

Many of us have technology at our fingertips via our mobile devices. We can check grain markets, weather, and even the score of last nights basketball game. Recently the FAO Director-General called for information technologies to be developed specifically for farmers in developing countries. We encourage you to read the linked article and use the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe.

More Support to Family Farmers Needed

Discussion Points

• Why are information technologies so important to small family farmers in developing countries?
• Why is it so important to give attention to small farmers in developing countries? 
• What technologies are being developed that will help farmers in developing countries?
• Look at agriculture in your community. How is information technology utilized in agriculture?
• Imagine you work for a technology company in development. What technologies and tools would you create for farmers in developing countries and how could they use them to improve agriculture?

Magic Beans

A company in England is working on "magic beans" that will aid those in agriculture and other industries outside of agriculture as well. Linked below is an article that highlights the possibilities for these magic beans within agriculture and secondly the BeanIoT website. We encourage you to look over the linked articles and discuss with others this technology that may be coming to agriculture around the globe very soon!

'Magic Beans' Monitor Grain Bins

BeanIoT Website

Discussion Points

• Explain these "magic beans." What do they look like and how do they work?
• What are their capabilities within agriculture?
• What are their capabilities outside of agriculture in your everyday lives?
• Do you see this technology being utilized by those in agriculture in your local communities? Explain.
• Within agriculture where do you see the BeanIoT of most use? Why.