From Famine to Survival? Climate, Crops and Consequences

Biodiversity Bites Back: Why What We Eat Matters

© 2026Based on the ideas of:   Kyrmanidou, ElliCC BY-NC-SA 4.0CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Modern Foreign Languages: English
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Learning Goal(s)
Explore the viewpoints on the socio-scientific issue comprehensively.
Learning Goal(s)
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the viewpoints on the socio-scientific issue from a scientific perspective.
Potential Misinformation and Exploitable Learner Misconceptions

Potential learner misconceptions might include:

We produce enough food, so there is no real scarcity.

Local food choices have no impact on global issues.

Only farmers and governments can act on these problems.

Lesson Plan Details:

Subject-Specific Learning Goals

Learners will be able to participate in spoken and written discussions about food scarcity and biodiversity, using appropriate subject-specific vocabulary, considering different stakeholder perspectives, and expressing, supporting, and defending their own position with relevant arguments.

Required Infrastructure & Teaching Materials
Teacher computerRequired Infrastructure & Teaching MaterialsStudent computers / notebooksRequired Infrastructure & Teaching MaterialsStudent tabletsRequired Infrastructure & Teaching MaterialsStudent smartphonesRequired Infrastructure & Teaching MaterialsInternet accessRequired Infrastructure & Teaching MaterialsProjectorRequired Infrastructure & Teaching MaterialsLearners' worksheetsRequired Infrastructure & Teaching Materials

Activity 1

Duration7 minutesSuggested Social FormTeacher-led instruction and Q&A sessions

Activity Instruction

Look at a cartoon strip and interpret its message. Political cartoons like this use images and exaggeration to make a point about real-world problems. Look closely and comment on the following questions:

1. What is happening in this image? Who are the people? What are their roles?

2. Why is everyone grabbing for the same corn?

4. What message do you think the cartoon is trying to send?

In order to assess the viewpoint of the picture the the teacher might also ask questions that emphasize on source literacy eg.

1. What point of view or bias is presented here?

2. Is this image trying to inform, persuade, or provoke?

Student Output Form

Other

Sources & Materials
Material Sources
Resource Type

Yes

App

Activity 1 (SciLMified)

Duration7; 10; 20; 8

Activity 2

Duration10 minutesSuggested Social FormIndividual Work

Activity Instruction

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In this activity, you will step into the shoes of

a real-world stakeholder affected by food scarcity. Your task is to analyze the

situation, express your stakeholder’s views, and work with others to find

possible solutions while defending your own interests.

·

Distinguish between

different perspectives and priorities.

·

Justify a position and

propose actions.

·

Construct a persuasive

argument from a stakeholder’s viewpoint.

You will be assigned one of the following roles:

·

Julien Besson, a

small-scale farmer

·

Maximilian von Hartman, a

food company owner

·

Maya Torres, a climate

change activist

·

Johnathan Whitaker, a government

official

·

Amina Rahal, a citizen from

a developing country

Read your role card carefully and prepare, highlight key motivations,

goals, and concerns. Prepare your position by preparing short answers to the

following questions: What is your main concern about food scarcity? What action

do you believe must be taken? How would you respond to others who may disagree?

One role play card is:

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Julien Besson, a small scale farmer, late 40s: As a small-scale farmer, my biggest concern

is that I can’t grow enough to feed my family or sell at fair prices. Food scarcity affects me directly not

because there isn’t enough food in the world, but because I don’t have access

to land, tools, or stable weather. Climate change is destroying my crops, and big companies often buy land in my

area to produce exports. I believe that governments and international companies

should support small farmers with fair trade

policies, seeds that adapt to local climates, and protection

from land grabs. If we want real food security, we must invest in local

solutions, not just global profits.

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Maximilian von Hartmann, a food company owner,

in his 60s: As the owner of a large food company, I believe we play a crucial

role in feeding the world’s growing population. We use advanced

technology and global distribution to produce food efficiently

and at scale. Food scarcity, in my view, happens when supply

chains are disrupted or when people don’t have access to our

products due to poor infrastructure or government policies. I argue that what

we need is less regulation and more innovation.

Genetically modified crops, for example, can resist climate threats and boost

yields. We’re often blamed unfairly in the

media for causing harm, but the truth is: without companies like ours, global

food production would collapse. The real solution is to support

business-led innovation, not punish it.

Maya Torres, a climate change activist, in her 30s: As a climate activist, I see food scarcity as a symptom of environmental collapse. Climate change eg. rising temperatures, floods, and droughts is devastating agriculture, especially for poor communities who did little to cause it. But many governments and corporations keep promoting industrial farming and deforestation, which accelerates biodiversity loss and soil degradation. That’s short-term thinking. I believe the solution is to shift to sustainable, local food systems, support organic farming, and reduce meat and chemical-heavy agriculture.

Jonathan Whitaker, a government official, in

his 50s: As a government official, I must consider national

stability, economic growth, and food access for all citizens.

Food scarcity affects both poor and wealthy countries through inflation,

trade issues, and natural disasters. We’re under pressure from all sides:

corporations want freedom, citizens want lower food prices, and activists

demand reforms. I believe governments should invest in resilient

food systems that means supporting both innovation

and regulation, enforcing fair land use, and ensuring that vulnerable

groups like small farmers aren’t left behind. However, we must also be cautious

of misinformation campaigns that spread fear or

distrust in policies like food aid or vaccine-linked agriculture.We need better public communication and transparency.

Amina Rahal, a citizen

from a developing country, 30 years old: I’m just an ordinary

citizen living in a developing country, and I experience food scarcity first-hand.

Sometimes, even when there is food in markets, it’s too

expensive, or the quality is poor. We are told that food is

scarce because of drought or war, but we also see rich countries wasting food

or companies exporting the best crops abroad. That doesn’t feel fair. I think

people like me should have a voice in decisions,

not just be talked about. I believe in supporting local

farmers, improving education, and making sure that help

whenever it comes goes to those who really need it, not just the rich or the

powerful. We need to question the stories we’re told

and share the truth about what’s happening in our communities.

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Student Output Form

Text; Oral presentation

Sources & Materials
Material Sources

Yes; Yes

Resource Type

Yes; Yes

App

Other; ChatGpt

Activity 2 (SciLMified)

Duration7; 10; 20; 8

Activity 3

Duration20 minutesSuggested Social FormGroup work

Activity Instruction

Sit in a group with the other stakeholders. You should form groups composed of every stakeholder. The

teacher or a student will moderate the discussion in two rounds:

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Round 1 - Stakeholder Statements:

a. Each of you shares your views on the problem and your proposed

solution.

Round 2 - Open Discussion:

Respond to others, find common ground, and evaluate whose solutions are most

realistic or urgent.

Instructions

1. Analyze the motivations, goals, and biases of different

stakeholders involved in food scarcity.

2. Evaluate the validity and fairness of different stakeholder

arguments and respond with justified counterpoints.

3. Propose possible solutions or compromises to

food scarcity that consider multiple stakeholder interests.

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Student Output Form

Interactive (multimedia) content (e.g. podcast, debate, role play, etc.)

Sources & Materials
Material Sources

Yes

Resource Type

Yes; Yes; Yes; Yes

App

Other; ChatGpt

Activity 3 (SciLMified)

Duration7; 10; 20; 8

Activity 4

Duration8 minutesSuggested Social FormIndividual Work

Activity Instruction

Take a moment to reflect on today’s role play and roundtable discussion. Complete the 3–2–1 prompts below to help you think critically about what you learned, what you noticed, and what actions you might take.

Instructions

1.

List three things you learned today about food scarcity, stakeholder perspectives, or how arguments can be used or misused

2. Formulate two questions you’re still wondering about. They can be about facts, fairness, or how to know what’s true.

3. Create an idea for a plan you would do

to reduce food scarcity or raise awareness about it.

Student Output Form

Text

Sources & Materials
Material Sources

Yes; Yes

Resource Type

Yes

App

Other; Google Document