THE BIGGER PICTURE

Students conduct a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Summit (UN Summit) in order to address the food security challenges they have researched throughout the Food Security module. As a representative of their country, they recommend actions to improve the food production system and follow-up with an individual critical evaluation of the proposed actions. The UN Summit is an authentic, Project Based Learning (PBL) product that incorporates current Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and systems thinking.  Students will synthesize and apply knowledge and skills acquired in Food Security (FS) Lessons 1-6, and work collaboratively to solve real-world problems.

FOR EDUCATORS

Please use this Complete Food Security (FS) Module link to access the most up-to-date version of our Food Security Curriculum Module (last updated 04/16/19) which is currently being field-tested. Here is a link to just FS7 Lesson (Updated 11/01/18). If you would like to field test these lessons, please email us at see@systemsbiology.org.

NOTES FOR TEACHERS PRIOR TO TEACHING THIS LESSON – all of the documents mentioned below can be found in the Lesson FS7: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Summit document.

Print and read:

• • PartII UNSummit Systems Thinking Guide Teacher Key

Prepare the following supplies:

• • Posters: 1 per country group
  • Post-it notes: 4 per student
  • Markers: class set

Pull up on computer:

• • UN Summit overview table (4th page of this document)
  • UN Overview Video
  • WRI 2013 – “The Great Balancing Act”

Print 1 copy of the following per student:

• • Part I_UNSummit_Overview_(Student)
  • Part I_UNSummit_Gathering Information and Finding Solutions (Student)
  • Part II_UNSummit_Systems Thinking Guide (Student)
  • Part III_UNSummit_Testing_A_Solution_(Student)
  • Part III_UNSummit_Claim_and_Evidence_Rubric_(Student)

Print 1 copy of the following per country group:

• • PartII_UNSummit_Example_UN Actions_EastFenwick_(Country_Group) (May need to reformat references)
  • Optional: Example_UN Goals_FAO_Sustainable_Development
  • WRI(2013)_The_Great_Balancing_Act

Print 1 copy of the following per UN Summit group:

• • PartII_UNSummit_Grant_for_Proposed_Actions(UNSummit_Group) 

Student need to gather these resources from previous lessons in the module:

• • FS1-FS6: Building Your Case worksheet  (handed out during FS1)
  • APPLICATION 1
  • FS3: Stakeholder Guiding Questions (Student)
  • FS3: Stakeholder Table (Student)

Links to websites and papers for country information:

Not required, but additional information if interested

• • http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#country (demographic, economic, political, environmental, and food production statistics on each country, from the FAO)
  • http://www.globalhungerindex.org/results-2017/ (current reports on worldwide hunger and undernutrition)

Case Study: Haiti

• • http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#country/93 (FAO statistics for Haiti)
  • http://www.greenfacts.org/en/water-resources/figtableboxes/aquastat79.htm (Water availability in Haiti)
  • http://www.iadb.org/en/news/webstories/2013-03-04/irrigation-in-haitis-artibonite,10333.html (Example of an aid initiative to train local farmers on more effective agricultural techniques)
  • http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/Pnach663.pdf (Case Study USAID Haiti)
  • http://www.ifpri.org/news-release/2013-global-hunger-index-country-case-study-haiti (International Food Policy Research case study)
  • http://humanitarian.worldconcern.org/2013/04/17/food-insecurity-the-silent-crisis-in-haiti/ (challenges facing small farmers in Haiti, and a potential solution)
  • http://www.foodsecurityportal.org/haiti (food security indicators, including GNI and measurements of exports and imports)
  • http://www.genderaction.org/publications/fdsec/haiti.pdf (emphasizes the importance of considering gender equity in projects funded by international development investing in Haiti)

Case Study: North Korea

• • http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#country/116 (FAO statistics for North Korea)
  • http://www.greenfacts.org/en/water-resources/figtableboxes/aquastat96.htm (Water availability in North Korea)
  • http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/412030/icode/ (FAO, impact of drought on food production in North Korea)
  • http://www.fao.org/emergencies/countries/detail/en/c/161543/ (FAO initiatives in North Korea to improve food security)
  • https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/19/620484758/the-food-insecurity-of-north-korea (impact of politics on food security)
  • http://www.miseast.org/en/nkorea/food-insecurity-north-korea (aid organization’s overview of factors contributing to food insecurity in North Korea)
  • https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/world-food-day-the-challenge-of-north-korea/ (political, economic, and social factors contributing to food insecurity in North Korea)

Case Study: Namibia

• • http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#country/147 (FAO statistics for Namibia)
  • http://www.greenfacts.org/en/water-resources/figtableboxes/aquastat123.htm (Water availability in Namibia)
  • http://www.un.org.na/home_htm_files/ZHRM.pdf (“Namibia Zero Hunger Roadmap” – outlines initiatives to eliminate hunger in Namibia 2016-2020)
  • http://www.orangesenqurak.com/challenge.aspx (overview of water use and management in the Orange-Senqu River Basin, the main source of fresh water in Namibia)
  • http://www.the-eis.com/data/literature/UNDP%20Adapting%20to%20climate%20change_2012.pdf (report on UNDP project to improve adaptive capacities of natural resource users in preparation for drought related to climate change)
  • http://www1.wfp.org/countries/namibia (The World Food Program on hunger in Namibia)
  • https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2017-12-29/africa-hunger-initiatives-bearing-some-fruit (Article on successful agricultural initiatives in various African countries)
  • https://borgenproject.org/hunger-in-namibia/ (Outlines structural and environmental causes of hunger in Namibia, and provides links to government development initiatives)

*All links to curriculum documents were updated on 11/01/18*