Exploring Agriculture and Food Sustainability

Exploring Agriculture and Food Sustainability

Maker Monday


We all need food to survive, but have you ever thought about where your food comes from? Grocery stores, restaurants, food trucks, and cafeterias all have to get the food you purchase from somewhere. Farmers fill this role bringing food from the field to the table. 

Today you will track food from the fields to the farmers market to your food truck. 


Step 1: Due to COVID 19, food trucks have become more popular by supplying a family with a dinner out but not in a restaurant. What other benefits can a food truck provide? Check out how farm to food truck concepts have become so popular.  

Step 2:  Time to brainstorm and be imaginative. Make a business plan for your food truck and how it will supply local produce to the community around you.  For a business plan template, go here. 

Step 3: Every food truck needs a signature dish. Create a recipe that will be the feature item on the menu. Don't forget to list all your ingredients and consider where they come from. 

Step 4:  Food trucks have their own style and image. This creates an identifiable brand for the business and sends a message about their food. Design a logo, unique name, and color scheme for your food truck. Don't forget to encourage the farm to food truck concept.

Step 5: Create your signature item and show off your food truck design with logo, menu, and slogan on social media using #MakerMondayTN and #LearningInPlaceTN! 






Additional Resources:

Wonder Wednesday


Food insecurity and hunger are important issues for our world. In America, one in seven children face hunger. This problem may seem too big for students to consider, but you might have an idea for how to implement a plan in your school to help your classmates. 

Today, you will research how people are combatting hunger and food insecurity in America. 


Step 1: Programs across America are helping Americans facing hunger. A brave middle schooler from Utah shares her story about her family's food insecure home. Watch Emily’s story. 

Step 2:  There are many ways to help combat hunger. Decreasing food waste is one way to help others.  Learn about food waste in America. Some farmers help  feed Americans in need through  Ripe Revival. 

Step 3: Sprout’s Food Rescue system is helping combat food insecurity, find out how here. As food banks are increasing their healthier options, think about other opportunities to lessen food insecurity.  How could local farmers markets, your school, or learning to garden help? 

Step 4:  Ponder how agriculture can help those who struggle to keep their pantry stocked. By 2050, food supplies will increase by 50 %. Explore how technology is changing agriculture to help close the food insecurity gap here. Brainstorm ways you could help those who might need help securing food.

Step 5: Think back to your Farm to Food Truck concept and and brainstorm what other solutions did you find to help combat hunger and food insecurity? Share your ideas on social media using #WonderWednesdayTN and #LearningInPlaceTN!


Additional Resources:


 

Future Friday

 
Agriculture has a variety of careers: diesel mechanics-who work on equipment, large animal veterinarians, soil and materials scientists. The career field in agriculture and food sustainability is expansive. 


Today, you will explore the variety of careers involved in getting food from the farm to the table. 

Step 1: If you are compelled to help others and have an interest in helping solve the food sustainability issue, then you might enjoy one of the many careers in agriculture. 
Find an overview of different careers in agriculture here. 

Step 2: Meet Birke Baehr, an eleven year old farmer, who promotes his love for farming and his point of view on organic farming. Baehr wants to help educate kids on where fresh food comes from.    

Step 3: Agriculture is more than farming.  Food science is a field in which engineering, biological, and physical sciences are used to understand more about food. Explore more career options in food science of agriculture here. 

Step 4: Farmers do more than plant and harvest. Plant sciences examine the characteristics of plants and the most efficient way to grow them. Explore more career options in plant science pathways of agriculture here. 

Step 5: Ask a family member to share something you learned about agricultural careers and why you might be interested in one of the areas of agriculture as a career using #FutureFridayTN and #LearningInPlaceTN!

Additional Resources:


Connecting Globally - We at TSIN believe STEM connects us all and in an effort to enhance those connections, the Resources for March 2021 will be connected to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.

Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

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