Food Security
What's the problem?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s definition of food security is “access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.” Food security has many components, including access, distribution, stability of supply, and use. The opposite of food security - food insecurity - is defined by the USDA as, “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.” Food insecurity involves both quantity and quality (nutrition) of food. Food deserts are areas where access to nutritious food is limited. They are often delegated by socio-economic and racial biases. Food insecurity has been worsened by climate change and unsustainable farming practices. Now, once fertile land is no longer suitable for farming. Even at sea, harvests of aquatic foods are decreasing due to overexploitation. According to the U.S. Department of State’s Global Food Security Strategy Plan, “the increasing challenge of changing climate patterns and extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and extended periods of extreme temperatures pose major challenges to global food security”.
Why should we care?
Miami-Dade County’s agricultural industry is one of the most diverse in the country and is supported by a year-round growing season. In addition to the environmental and aesthetic benefits, Miami-Dade County’s agriculture provides 20,000 jobs and generates almost 3 billion dollars. Our reliance on agriculture for survival and economic prosperity demonstrates the need for sustainable agriculture practices that will prevent its decline. “Sustainable agriculture integrates environmental health, economic viability, and social equity to ensure long-term productivity of natural resources and improved livelihoods.” (USAID). The climate challenge places continued stress on ecosystems, marine environments, fisheries and the land, water, and natural resource based upon which productive agriculture relies. Thus, coming up with new food production practices is necessary.
What can we do?
New tools and approaches for increasing agricultural productivity, monitoring and managing threats and risks, better managing natural resources related to food supply, adapting to climate change, and mitigating greenhouse gasses are needed to plan for the future. Aquaculture, or the farming of aquatic vegetation and animals, is being used to meet our seafood demands. While it can have environmental drawbacks, new technologies like aquaponics and cultivation of select organisms is helping make it more sustainable. The USDA provides various solutions for farmers to adopt sustainable agriculture practices. These include planting cover crops, applying integrated pest management, crop rotation, and monitoring their tillage practices for soil enrichment.
Schools can take action by sourcing food locally and creating garden-based and agriscience curriculum. These will teach children about food, sustainable farming, and nutrition. Community gardens also offer an affordable way to obtain local, nutritious foods while having a direct role in their cultivation.
Green Schools Challenge Activities:
STE(A)M Activity - Farming by Land and by Sea
CREATE YOUR OWN - Submit Lesson Plan click here
Points for participation will be based on a rubric. Download here.
