2.4 Sustainable Food systems
2.4 FOOD
Introduction
Not all pupils are aware that they are connected to the material cycle through what they eat. However, the large-scale and industrial collection, production and transport of food is slowly depleting the earth’s resources. They will investigate how we can create local, sustainable and resilient food systems that not only contribute to their own health, but also to the preservation or strengthening of the ecosystem.
Relevance
Why?
Through food we are connected to the great cycle of matter, through which we are in most direct contact with the rest of the ecosystem. Therefore, we need to know how to procure food in a way that creates ecological richness.
How?
By learning how to create food systems that are resilient and generating diversity in ecosystems, what are the local possibilities and limitations.
What?
What are your local food sources, what are their options for providing varied and healthy food, and how to participate in the wider food network.
SDG’s
SDG 14: Life Below Water; SDG 15: Life on Land; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions; SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
Subjects
Physics, Ecology, Chemistry, Economy, History, Mathematics, Geography, Biology
Open Learning Activities
Key concepts
- Permaculture
- Local food
- Organic farming
- Deep ecology
- Restoration of ecosystems
- Biodiversity
- Biophilia
Learning outcomes
- Recall demands & sources of food in different parts of world (food security)
- Understand connections between agriculture, food production, climate, biodiversity, soil, nutrient cycles & human development
Identify harmful impacts of unsustainable food production - Understand food production, life cycle, impact on health & culture (traditional/local food)
- Know food footprint; link between food & equality & ethical food
- Know edible wild plants, mushrooms, animals
Practice survival & cooking skills - Know quantities of food waste personal, community, national level & possibilities for decreasing
- Assess & communicate need for affordable, reliable, sustainable, clean food systems everywhere
- Develop vision for reliable, sustainable food production & supply for school, family community
- Create permaculture design
Cooperate with others to transfer, adapt & develop food production in different contexts - Suggest technology transfers in collaboration between countries
- Evaluate, plan & apply, measures to increase food production, food sustainability & food efficiency in personal, community sphere
Influence school/public policies related to sustainable food production, supply and consume - Know how to act to help others during food systems outages
- Knows how to build nature based solutions for producing clean and sustainable food
- Practised skills for food production, cooking & preserving