The Future of Agriculture – Critical Challenges
Blue 365: Lesson 1 — “The Future of Agriculture: Critical Challenges” is an FFA lesson plan that introduces students to the broad challenges facing the agriculture industry by 2050 to set context for future lessons on specific technologies and innovations. Through a bell ringer, research, infographic design, innovation/product creation, concept mapping, and career exploration, students examine themes of respecting the planet, feeding the world, and improving lives. The lesson includes multiple student activity worksheets and optional “leveling up” extensions.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- Describe critical challenges facing the agriculture industry by the year 2050.
- Identify two to three statistics facing agriculture sustainability.
- Design an infographic illustrating ways to respect our planet.
- Create an innovation or product to improve lives and feed the world.
- Analyze current challenges faced by the agriculture industry and develop potential solutions.
- Time required
- 90 minutes
- Materials
-
- Internet access to play the videos in real time or embed them in a PowerPoint
- A copy of the "Critical Challenges 2050" worksheet for each student
- A copy of the "Critical Challenges — Infographic" worksheet for each student
- A copy of the "Innovations for a Changing Globe" worksheet for each student
- A copy of the "Brainstorming Solutions for Critical Challenges" worksheet for each student
- A copy of the "Agricultural Careers Exploration" worksheet for each student
- A copy of the "What Is My Role?" worksheet for each student
- Colored pens/markers
- Blank paper
- Resources
- 1. OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050 website; 2. Factnomenal's (2017) video "15 Amazing Statistics for 2050!"; 3. American Farm Bureau (2017) Fast Facts website; 4. Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO, 2018) food loss and waste website; 5. Infographic generation tools: Piktochart (2018) and Canva (2018); 6. Video: "One Hungry Planet" (BASFAgProducts, 2010); 7. "Innovations at Work in Agriculture" (USDA, 2017) website; 8. "27 Industrial Revolution Inventions that Changed the World" (McFaddin, 2018); 9. AgExplorer (AgExplorer.ffa.org); 10. National FFA Living to Serve Grant Program
- This Quick Lesson Plan Would Work Well As An
- Introduction to critical issues in agriculture; Introduction to technology in agriculture; Introduction to innovations in agriculture; Introduction to global food security.
- Created
- 11/2018 by the National FFA Organization
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
AFNR Career Ready Practices
AFNR Cluster Skills
- CS.05Describe career opportunities and means to achieve those opportunities in each of the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources career pathways.
- CS.06Analyze the interaction among AFNR systems in the production, processing and management of food, fiber and fuel and the sustainable use of natural resources.
AFNR Performance Element
- CS.01Analyze how issues, trends, technologies and public policies impact systems in the agriculture, food & natural resources career cluster.
Common Career Technical Core
- AG1Analyze how issues, trends, technologies and public policies impact systems in the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Career Cluster.
- AG5Describe career opportunities and means to achieve those opportunities in each of the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Career Pathways.
- AG6Analyze the interaction among AFNR systems in the production, processing, and management of food, fiber, and fuel and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Common Core – Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects: Writing
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9-10.6Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology's capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.
Common Core – Reading: Informational Text
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.3Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events, including the order in which the points are made, how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are drawn between them.
Common Core – Science & Technical Subjects
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.7Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.
Common Core – Speaking and Listening
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.4Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.
Common Core – Writing
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.2Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
FFA Precept
- FFA-CS-M.CommunicationEffectively interact with others in personal and professional settings.
FFA Precepts
- FFA.CS-N.Decision MakingAnalyze a situation and execute an appropriate course of action.
Green/Sustainability Knowledge and Skill Statements
- AFNR Career Cluster, Statement 3Communicate the impact of green and sustainability principles on agriculture, food and natural resource systems.
- AFNR Career Cluster, Statement 7Demonstrate an understanding of green and sustainability trends that are impacting processes and markets in AFNR.
NASDCTEc
- AGC10.03Compare and contrast issues affecting the AFNR industry including biotechnology, employment, safety, environmental and animal welfare to demonstrate an understanding of the trends and issues important to careers in this industry.
- AGC10.04Envision emerging technology and globalization and project its influence on widespread markets to demonstrate an understanding of technologies and trends that will impact the AFNR industry.
Next Generation Science
- HS-ETS1-3Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.