Impacts of Climate Change on Food Production
Although we tend to think of biodiversity in terms of natural settings such as forests and oceans, species variety and the ecosystems in which they interact play a key role in human food production. In small teams, students brainstorm and discuss climate change impacts on food production in Europe.
- Review impacts caused by climate change using the “infographics entitled Climate Change and the Environment and Climate Change and the Economy.
- Use one sheet of paper per issue. Write the title of the issue followed by two columns with the heading “Opportunities” above one and “Negative impacts” above the other.
- Give out one card per team and ask students to write ideas related to their particular issue on the sheet.
- Invite students to share their ideas.
- Synthesize the main points in the student BLM Possible Impacts of Climate Change on Food Production in Europe.
- With the students, suggest measures that might be put in place to adapt to the repercussions of climate change (e.g., find ways of reducing water consumption or genetically engineer insect- /disease-resistant plants, etc.).
Interior Vegetable Wall as Adaptation!
In this activity, students implement an adaptation strategy aimed at reducing water consumption and countering the effects of plant diseases and harmful insects that are increasing due to a warmer climate. Together they will rethink the traditional vegetable garden by building an interior vegetable wall that maximizes space, reduces water consumption, and promotes crop diversity while keeping harmful insects out.
- Discuss measures that could be put into place to adapt to the repercussions of climate change with respect to agricultural pests (e.g., plant indoors or in a greenhouse; rotate crops so that disease and pests do not persist from one generation of crops to another). Ask students about ways to reduce water evaporation and water consumption.
- Ask students if they have vegetable gardens or if they know people who grow their own fruits and vegetables. Explain that over the next several lessons, they will be building their own vegetable wall. Discuss whether building a vertical garden counts as an adaptation measure.
- Show examples of vertical vegetable gardens.
- Ask students to search the web to explore other vertical vegetable garden options.
- In teams of three students, ask students to choose a vertical vegetable garden model they would like to build. Ask students to list the materials needed and sketch their design with clear labels. They should also list the type of seeds they plan to use depending on the model they have chosen, and be able to justify their choice.
- Build the various vertical vegetable gardens and tend to them regularly. This stage is very important since students will have to give special attention to the plants throughout the school year. In order to make this environmentally friendly project a success and avoid loss of healthy seedlings, distribute the plants among the students at the end of the school year so that they can take them home and replant them outside during the summer.
- In pairs, ask students to come up with a list of advantages and disadvantages of vertical gardening. Debrief with the class using the suggestions: Advantages and Disadvantages of Vertical Vegetable Gardens
ECON Activity