3-9: Impact of Global Change on Agriculture
Importance of this Unit to the Course
This unit interprets changes in global climate as
discussed in Block 2 in terms of changes that can be estimated for agricultural production in
various countries.
Objectives
- To extend our understanding of how plants
use water and carbon dioxide to explore the implications for global
production of agricultural crops.
- To understand which regions gain and
which regions lose in agricultural potential and what opportunities
exist for adaptation to climate change.
Preparation for
Discussion (You must complete this section before class.)
- Read the
summary information
(Images)
- Take the
Quiz over the summary information. (see your portfolio)
- Review additional reading material (this material is not covered in the
quiz, but offers more ideas for online discussion)
Discussion (online /
face-to-face) (See your portfolio for due dates and times)
A major component of the course is participation in the online dialog.
The following types of comments are required:
- Social Comments
- Knowledge-building Comments
- Ethical Comments
The following may be used as discussion starters for the online dialog:
- Unit Problem to Ponder:
What are the global agricultural implications of dietary choices of the
global population? What if everyone were vegetarians? What if
everyone ate one Big Mac per day? See
"Where's
the beef?" for ideas.
- Unit exam questions
from previous years
- Unit discussions from previous years, available from
the current online
discussion page
Additional Reading