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

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.