Global Food Security

One of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. The rapid increase of the world’s population, combined with unprecedented levels of human consumption, present profound challenges to our health, wellbeing and the natural environment. Producing enough food for our growing global population comes with the added challenge of changing consumption patterns, as well as the need to cope with the dramatic effects of climate change and the increasing scarcity of water and land. In addition to sustaining populations around the world, food production methods must help preserve the environment and natural resources, and also support the livelihoods of farmers. This resource has been developed by the British Council in partnership with the Royal Society. It provides scientific background information on the issues surrounding food security, and the impact of a growing global population on food production. It has the following activity ideas to help students age 7 to 14 discuss and explore the subject in more depth:

• What types of farming are most common in your country?
• Salty seeds - how germination of seeds is dependent on the environment
• Floating gardens - how to grow crops in spite of floods
• Cross-curricular activities such as exploring the concept of 'food miles'; discussing the statement 'All life depends on plants'; growing different types of healthy foods.