KS4 Food security
What are the factors contributing to the issue of food security and how can we deal with them?
Level
Duration
Allocated space
Overview
The world’s population is predicted to hit nine billion by 2050 (United Nations, 2015). How can we ensure that people have access to a sustainable, affordable supply of food?
80% of the global calorie intake comes from 12 crops, with 50% coming from wheat, maize and rice. What might happen if we lost one of those staple crops?
Through field-based inquiry and the use of DNA experimental techniques, pupils become Kew scientists and investigate how the wild cousins of the crops we eat today can be used to safeguard our future food security.
Please note, part of this session will take place in one of our classrooms.
Learning outcomes
Pupils will be able to:
- Define food security and determine some of the factors affecting food security.
- Describe and explain some strategies to cope with the demands of feeding a growing population.
- Understand the process and impacts of selective breeding and genetic engineering.
- Communicate the role of Kew Gardens in contributing to global strategies to increase food supply.
We will ensure learning outcomes are relevant to your pupils and will focus on your chosen exam board and subject choice.
Keywords:
Food security, climate change, sustainability, resources, agriculture, crops, selective breeding, genetic engineering, biotechnology
Curriculum links
AQA – Biology
4.6.2 Variation and evolution
- 4.6.2.3 Selective breeding
- 4.6.2.4 Genetic engineering
4.7.5 Food production
- 4.7.5.1 Factors affecting food security
- 4.7.5.4 Role of biotechnology
AQA – Geography
3.2 Challenges in the human environment
- 3.2.3.1 Resource management
- 3.2.3.2 Food
Edexcel – Biology
Topic 4: Natural selection and genetic modification – 4.8, 4.10, 4.12B, 4.13B, 4.14
Topic 9: Ecosystems and material cycles – 9.11B
OCR A – Biology
Topic B6: Global challenges
- B6.2 Feeding the human race – a, b, c, d, f, g
OCR B – Biology
Chapter B1: You and your genes
- B1.3 How can and should gene technology be used? 2, 4
Chapter B6: Life on Earth: past, present and future
- B6.1 How was the theory of evolution developed? 6
- B6.4 How is biodiversity threatened and how can we protect it? 3, 6
OCR B – Geography
Topic 8: Resource Reliance
- 8.2 Can we feed nine billion people by 2050?
- a. What does it mean to be food secure?
- c. How sustainable are these strategies?
BTEC – Biology
Topic 4: Natural selection and genetic modification – 4.8, 4.14
Skills Links:
- design fieldwork data collection sheets and collect data with an understanding of accuracy, sample size and procedures, control groups and reliability
- Use of qualitative and quantitative data from both primary and secondary sources to obtain, illustrate, communicate, interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical information.
