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Food Security - Human Impacts on Earth Systems - Reading and Research (6-8 Grade NGSS)

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As our population on Earth reaches 8 billion, one of the many challenges we face is food security. Food security means “that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life,” as defined by the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security. Up to 40% of all greenhouse gas emissions are thought to come from our agricultural systems around the world.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recommended several ways to reduce the impact of agriculture on climate change while maintaining (and potentially increasing) food security around the world.

1) Use agricultural systems that include soil carbon sequestration.
2) Reductions in nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizers.
3) Reductions in methane emissions from rice cultivation.
4) Agricultural techniques that increase yield gaps (without increasing emissions or habitat destruction).
5) Better grazing land management.
6) Improved manure management.
7) Higher quality feed for livestock.
8) Reducing food loss and waste.
9) People choosing to eat more healthy and sustainable diets.

Do some research on each of these ways to reduce the impact of agriculture on climate change while maintaining (and potentially increasing) food security around the world will work. Use the accompanying worksheet and/or whatever space you need.    

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School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

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Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Food Security - Human Impacts on Earth Systems - Reading and Research (6-8 Grade NGSS)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 25, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/Food-Security-Human-Impacts-on-Earth-Systems-Reading-and-Research-6-8-Grade-NGSS >

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