What you need to know
Agriculture and the Environment : Knowledge & Technology to Feed the World
There are many articles that estimate the population of the Earth to be approximately 9 billion by the year 2050. One of the primary concerns for the agricultural industry is how will farmers be able to grow enough food to feed this growing population, while also protecting natural resources such as soil, water, air, wildlife, and forestry resources.
Students will learn the concepts of how agriculture and all natural resource areas are interrelated, and how the use of new technologies are key to increase food production. Key topics will include:
There are many articles that estimate the population of the Earth to be approximately 9 billion by the year 2050. One of the primary concerns for the agricultural industry is how will farmers be able to grow enough food to feed this growing population, while also protecting natural resources such as soil, water, air, wildlife, and forestry resources.
Students will learn the concepts of how agriculture and all natural resource areas are interrelated, and how the use of new technologies are key to increase food production. Key topics will include:
- Understand integrated pest management and biological pest control techniques used to prevent insect pest, disease, and weed problems;
- Comprehension of farming practices that build soil organic matter such as composting, crop rotations, cover crops, conservation tillage, and management intensive grazing systems to improve soil health;
- Understand the importance of moving toward sustainable farming systems to conserve natural resources, mitigate climate change, reduce erosion and protect water quality and quantity, and promote pollination;
- Understand the role of new technology: agricultural biotechnology; precision agriculture; and using UAV (drones, GIS, etc.) to increase farm efficiency for food production.
Key Topics
- Understanding how agroecosystems function and the services they
provide. - Understanding the importance of soil health as the foundation of a healthy
ecosystem. - Understanding sustainable agriculture on large and small farm operations,
as well as the indicators of sustainable farming. - Understanding how sustainable and best management farming practices
enhance and protect soil health, water quality and quantity, and biodiversity;
as well as manage insect pests, disease, and weeds. - The differences of local, regional, and national foods systems that are
vital to grow food for an ever increasing world population; and the
importance of each food system. - New technologies that help provide more efficient agriculture production.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how agroecology applies ecological principles to agricultural
systems by considering productivity, ecosystem impacts, and social
responsibility.- KT #1 - Understand the indicators of soil health, including physical, chemical and
biological properties and its role in the agroecosystem- KT #2. - Define sustainable agriculture, including comparing and contrasting
sustainable practices on large and small farm operations- KT #3 - Understand the importance of moving toward sustainable farming systems
to conserve natural resources, mitigate climate change, reduce erosion and
protect water quality and quantity; as well as and promote pollination- KT #4 - Understand farm management practices to build soil organic matter, such
as: composting, crop rotations, cover crops, conservation tillage, and
management intensive grazing systems to improve soil health.- KT #4 - Understand best management practices that improve water quality and
reduce water use such as conservation tillage, cover crops, plant selection,
precision agriculture, water re-use, and sub-surface drip irrigation.- KT #4 - Understand integrated pest management and biological pest control
techniques used to prevent insect pest, disease, and weed problems.- KT # 4 - Knowledge of the role pollinators play in farming and ways to attract
them.-KT#4 - Describe the economic, social, and environmental benefits of sustainable
agriculture to local communities, as well as to regional and global food
systems. KT #5 - Understand the role of new technology: agricultural biotechnology;
precision agriculture; using UAV (drones, GIS, etc.) to increase farm
efficiency for food production.- KT #6 - Understand the risks and benefits of agricultural biotechnology.- KT #6
2019 NCF - Envirothon Competition
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
July 28 - August 2, 2019
https://www.envirothon.org/the-competition/current-competition
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
July 28 - August 2, 2019
https://www.envirothon.org/the-competition/current-competition
