David vs. Goliath - plant production (Organic vs. Conventional agriculture)

1. Introduction to the topic: 

Make presentation or show the class a video about the project -

Compared to conventionally grown food, organic food comes off looking safer and potentially cheaper when the true cost of food is taken into account. If you’re standing in the produce section of the supermarket, what’s the difference between the shiny red apple in your right hand, and the identical organic red apple in your left? Is the organic apple healthier? Does it taste better?

People want to know the difference, they want to look closer to this issue, but all kinds of food - regardless of how it was produced - must be of high quality. More low-quality foods come from conventional agriculture. A consequence of this fact is that more foods are produced in conventional way than in organic agriculture, and thus there is a greater probability of human factor failure.

The essential difference between organic and conventional farming is that conventional farming relies on chemical intervention to fight pests and weeds and provide plant nutrition. That means synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers. Organic farming relies on natural principles like biodiversity and composting instead to produce healthy, abundant food.

Importantly, “Organic production is not simply the avoidance of conventional chemical inputs, nor is it the substitution of natural inputs for synthetic ones. Organic farmers apply techniques first used thousands of years ago, such as crop rotations and the use of composted animal manures and green manure crops, in ways that are economically sustainable in today’s world. In organic production, overall system health is emphasised, and the interaction of management practices is the primary concern. Organic producers implement a wide range of strategies to develop and maintain biological diversity and replenish soil fertility” (USDA, 2007)

At the end, vegetables and fruits were grown for the sustenance, for the benefit to our health. Over time, when conventional agriculture started in the 50s, vegetables, fruits and food began to "produce" with the aim of achieving sales and high profits. It is up to us which way we support.

2. Find out how much the class knows about this topic 

Possible questions to ask:

• Which type of farming aims to maintain soil fertility?
  • Answer: Organic farming aims to maintain soil fertility.
• What is conventional farming?
  • Answer: Conventional farming is a farming method that uses chemicals to stop the growth of weeds and pests and provide artificial nutrition for crops.
• When did conventional farming become widespread?
  • Answer: Conventional farming became widespread only after World War II.
• What are the negative impacts of conventional farming on the environment?
  • Answer: The chemicals used in conventional farming negatively affect the environment by contributing to water and soil pollution, increasing emissions, and more.
• What is organic farming?
  • Answer: Organic farming is a production system that encourages the cycling of resources, promotes ecological balance, and preserves and conserves biodiversity. It mainly involves the use of cover crops, natural, green, and animal manures, and crop rotations to fertilise the soil, maintain soil fertility and health, and maximise biological activity.
• What is the basic principle of organic farming?
  • Answer: The basic principle of organic farming is to work alongside nature and balance the environment and ecosystem.
• What is the basic principle of organic farming?
  • Answer: The basic principle of organic farming is to work alongside nature and balance the environment and ecosystem.
• What are the benefits of organic farming over conventional farming?
  • Answer: Organic farming has little negative impacts on the soil, does not use genetically modified organisms, uses natural fertilisers, natural insect repellents, and sustainable farming methods.
• What is the difference between organic farming and conventional farming?
  • Answer: Organic farming focuses on natural processes and methods to promote soil health and crop growth, while conventional farming relies on synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, and genetically modified crops.

Explain what the activity is about and formulate what you expect the students to do and learn. 

Step 1. educate  

This activity is about expanding horizons. The students will learn what is the difference between these two ways of land management. In how many ways does it affect the nutrition status of foods, ecosystems and the country? The aim is to make them realise that if we want to make a change, we need to know as much as possible about the given issue. 

 Step 2. implement

The student will pick one organic product and one conventional and follow their journey back to the origin (farmer), how was the product created, what are the differences in the growing and farming. The student can also organise a visit to the farm, or contact the farmer online. The aim is to reach out and learn as much as possible about the farming processes from the farmer. The students can also find out who and how many celebrities grow their own food and what type, or make research on what new/exotic plants are beginning to be grown in their country or Europe, that hasn't before. 

Step 3. present

Create a presentation about the story of a fruit or vegetable, in which you describe the story of the product from seed to the moment it reaches the consumer. List the differences between organic and conventional farming. 

3. Introduce students to information materials and resources to start the project

Resources for teachers: 

• Rodale institute https://rodaleinstitute.org/why-organic/organic-farming-practices/ 
• Sigma earth https://sigmaearth.com/organic-farming-versus-conventional-farming-which-is-superior/ 
• Leaf score https://www.leafscore.com/eco-friendly-garden-products/organic-vs-conventional-farming-what-are-the-key-differences/
• Documentary films from Johns Hopkins University Food System Curriculum (foodspan.org) 

4. Research

Help students formulate research questions to find out more data about the issue: 

• How many farms in your country are conventional/organic?
• How many hectares in your country are used for conventional/organic farming? 
• What is the difference in the farming processes?
• Which way of farming is more cost effective? 

Let students do the research

• research and make a list of local organic farms in your region - describe what they are growing and producing
• create a story of the food one of the farms produce and sells
• activity - find out who and how many celebrities grow their own food and what they grow

5. Implementation

• Ask students to grow something at home organically 

6. Reflexion

Discuss with students the outcome of the project, define some conclusions on how to further implement it 

• At the end of the lesson, what have we learned over the course of the activity? 
• What went well? What not? Why? What can we do to make it better next time? 
• What information do we now have about which foods should be grown organically? 
• Why is organic farming so important to environmental and wildlife conservation?

Define some conclusions on how to support organic farming in the following years

7. Presentation

Ask the students to make presentation of the implemented project outcome -

• This could be during a class
• It can also happen over an School Open Day or Parents day
• The school can invite policy makers from the ministry of agriculture

8. Survey

Go to the school canteen and ask whether they take products from organic or conventional farmers, what is the percentage of organic or conventional?