How can we feed 9 billion people? What are the limits to food production?

By 2050, feeding 9 billion people will necessitate doubling current food production without expanding land use, amidst slowing yield gains. Challenges include climate change affecting arable land, water scarcity, energy-intensive agriculture linked to fuel costs, infrastructure gaps in developing countries, and significant food waste. Innovations in technology, farming practices, and environmental stewardship, alongside efforts to reduce food waste and improve global living standards, are critical for sustainable agriculture.

This learning module includes 4 lessons and/or activities.

Meet FTW alumni educator Jeff Jostpille as he takes us on a journey to hunt for macroinvertebrates and assess the water health of the Auglaize river in Northwest Ohio. Learn how to kick seine, collect, and identify macroinvertebrates that live in the river. Then use this knowledge to determine water quality.

What is the science behind biotechnology and genetic modification?

Genetic modification (GM) has been practiced for millennia, evolving from simple selective breeding to sophisticated biotechnological methods. Historically, humans transformed wild plants and animals into diverse breeds and crops through selective breeding, as seen in the variety of dog breeds and the transformation of wild grasses into corn. Modern GM techniques now enable the transfer of specific genes between organisms, producing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that are tailored to resist pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. Today, GM crops are grown worldwide, enhancing food security, reducing pesticide use, and contributing to sustainable agriculture. While nearly 80% of foods in the U.S. contain GMOs, regulatory practices vary globally. The advancements in GM technology promise more affordable food, higher agricultural yields, and reduced environmental impact, reflecting a significant evolution in agricultural practices.

This learning module includes 11 lessons and/or activities.

Every field is different! How do farmers know what their soil needs to grow a good corn crop for the following year? Learn how farmers use science to build soil nutrition for crop production. This virtual field trip goes into the field with an agronomist to explore soil health and its impact on crop growth. Presenters include Dan Kirk, precision technology specialist, and agronomist Jonah Johnson.

Take part in an interactive career panel with Nick Nawratil, COO of Hylio Inc. and Chris Weigman, PhD, Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering at The Ohio State University. Learn more about the incredible technology currently employed in agriculture and future innovations yet to come.

What is ethanol? How much corn is dedicated to ethanol production? Why should corn be used to produce ethanol?

In the U.S., fuel ethanol production primarily utilizes corn, converting its starch into simple sugars for fermentation by yeast, yielding ethanol and byproducts like animal feed and CO2. This process, centered on fermentation, transforms sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide, with about half a pound of ethanol produced per pound of sugar. Corn's high carbohydrate content makes it an efficient feedstock, allowing for the production of around 2.8 gallons of ethanol per bushel. Ethanol production not only uses the starch but also generates distillers grain, enriching livestock feed with remaining nutrients. Notably, 40% of U.S. corn goes towards ethanol production, enhancing energy independence by reducing oil imports, with 14.3 billion gallons of ethanol in 2014 offsetting 512 million barrels of crude oil. Ethanol's production energy primarily derives from solar energy captured by corn, with its energy output exceeding the fossil fuels used for its cultivation and processing by 20-40%. Additionally, ethanol offers environmental benefits, including a 10-20% reduction in greenhouse gases compared to gasoline, equivalent to removing 20 million vehicles from the road, highlighting its role in sustainable energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

This learning module includes 7 lessons and/or activities.

How can fermentation help to create renewable fuel sources? Use the engineering design process to learn what enzyme action can do and test to determine the role of each variable in the fermentation process.

Why is corn a valuable crop? How does corn grow, pollinate, and produce kernels? What farming techniques are important to increase corn yield?

Corn, originating in the Americas, has been cultivated for about 7,000 years. It's a staple grain, alongside wheat and rice, significantly used for human consumption (corn meal, oils, syrups), livestock feed (64%), and in manufacturing (nylon, bioplastics, ethanol). Cultivation involves strategic planting, pollination by wind, and careful soil management for high yields. Each year, over 80 million acres in the U.S. are planted with corn, which is then harvested and processed for various uses, including renewable fuel.

This learning module includes 6 lessons and/or activities.

Take part in a virtual lesson to learn more about how technology impacts corn growth and yield. See how seed population and corn growth influence yield, then take part in a yield prediction lesson to estimate yield at harvest.

Is it possible to reach net zero in carbon intensity with ethanol production? Meet industry experts and learn more about how ethanol is making our environment better through positive energy, decreasing carbon intensity scores and greenhouse gas emissions, and adding valuable livestock feeds to the market.

How is farming a system? What are the inputs (fertilizer, pesticide, seed) and outputs (crop yield, emissions, runoff)? What impact does soil as a storage have on the consequences of these inputs and outputs?

Systems thinking, applied in business and environmental science, examines the interconnected parts of a whole, categorized as inputs (external additions), outputs (productions), storages (reserves for future use), and flows (movement of matter and energy). In agriculture, inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and water interact within the soil system, influencing crop production. Soil composition—sand, silt, clay—along with nutrient levels (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) and pH, affects plant growth. Mismanagement, particularly over-fertilization, can lead to cultural eutrophication, creating "dead zones" in water bodies by depleting oxygen, crucial for aquatic life.

This learning module includes 9 lessons and/or activities.

Take part in an interactive career panel with Heather Raymond, Director of Water Quality Initiative at The Ohio State University; and Logan Haake, Ag Products Manager, and Paige Fitzwater, Intern, who both specialize in 4R Nutrient Stewardship with Legacy Farmers Co-op in Northwest Ohio.

Meet the Yoders as we tour their central Ohio farm and learn about how they implement sustainability practices. See how farming practices have changed over the past 40 years in order to increase yield and improve soil and water quality for the future. Discover how cover crops and no-till farming encourage soil health, capture carbon, and improve water quality.

Meet Jim Love and Sheila Downey from Becks Hybrids as they take you on a virtual field trip to showcase how precision technology in agriculture helps farmers make better decisions to improve yield and increase profitability. Learn what drones can do and how they are used! See how data is collected to help inform farmers' decisions on crop growth and potential inputs as they discuss how technology is changing agriculture.

What are GMOs? How is genetic modification done? Can genetic modification help to reduce the impact of human activities on natural systems? Plasmids are DNA that determine the traits of bacteria. Transform bacteria by inserting a plasmid and examine the results of this transformation. Compare this process to the techniques currently used in food production.

How does the production of corn affect water quality? How is water quality tested?

Corn production's impact on water quality has improved due to best management practices, reducing sediment and nutrient losses significantly. Modern agriculture uses genetically modified crops and efficient water infiltration methods, alongside USDA programs and the 4 Rs nutrient strategy, to lessen environmental impact. Water quality is assessed through chemical tests measuring properties like dissolved oxygen and nutrients, essential for aquatic life. Biological assessments, based on vertebrate and macroinvertebrate diversity, indicate water health, reflecting the ecosystem's chemical and physical condition. Riparian zone management, affecting stream structure and temperature, plays a crucial role in maintaining water quality, highlighting the interconnectedness of agricultural practices and aquatic ecosystems.

This learning module includes 6 lessons and/or activities.