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Description
Author and activist Michael Pollan, a passionate advocate for sustainable food, explores how our industrial food system keeps us overly dependent on fossil fuels, destroys our environment, and makes us sick. In doing so, Pollan links the current approach to food production and distribution to the energy crisis, to the health care crisis, and the climate change crisis.
Breaking this cycle requires changing our relationship to food, which is summed up as “Eat Food, Not Too Much, and Mostly Plants”.
General Assessment
Recommendation of how and where to use it
Effective tool for promoting system thinking in that it explores the connection between the food we eat, our reliance on fossil fuels, our health, and our changing climate.
Also effective in illustrating that sustainable development requires that we recognize the interplay among the economic, environmental and social implications in the way we feed ourselves.
May be used in any high school course that investigates agriculture/food issues, health issues, energy or water use.
Relevant Curriculum Units
The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.
- Step 1Select a province
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 9: The biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere are interconnected, as matter cycles and energy flows through them.
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science 12: Living sustainably supports the well-being of self, community, and Earth.
- Environmental Science 12: Sustainable land use is essential to meet the needs of a growing population
- Manitoba
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Geographic Issues of the 21 st Century: Food from the Land
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Current Topics in the Sciences 30S: Science, Technology, Society & the Environment
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- World Geography: A Human Perspective - World Food Supply: Production and Distribution
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Citizenship and Sustainability: Area of Inquiry: Consumerism
- Citizenship and Sustainability: Area of Inquiry: Environment
- Global Issues
- Global Issues
- New Brunswick
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- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Advanced Environmental Science 120: Earth Systems
- Introduction to Environmental Science 120: Investigating Environmental Issues
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Canadian Geography 120: Patterns and Systems in the Human and Natural World
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- World Issues 120: Geopolitics
- World Issues 120: Humanity
- World Issues 120:Interdependence
- Newfoundland & Labrador
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science 3205: Land Use & the Environment
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- AP Environmental Science: Land and Water
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- AP Human Geography: Agricultural and Rural Land - Use Patterns and Processes
- Global Geography:Resources and Commodities
- Ontario
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Exploring Canadian Geography: Physical Geography and Physical Processes in Canada
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science (Univ/College Prep.) Conservation of Energy
- Environmental Science (Univ/College Prep.) Human Health and the Environment
- Environmental Science (Univ/College Prep.) Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry
- Environmental Science (Workplace Prep.) Energy Conservation
- Environmental Science (Workplace Prep.) Human Health and the Environment
- Environmental Science (Workplace Prep.) Natural Resource Science and Management
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Regional Geography (Univ./College Prep.) Dynamics and Change
- Regional Geography (Univ./College Prep.): Sustainability and Stewardship
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- The Environment & Resource Management (Univ./College Prep.):Sustainability and Stewardship of Natural Resources
- Prince Edward Island
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science 621A: Natural Resources
- Geography
- Step 4Relevant matches
- What can I do?
- Geography 621A Global Issues
- Geography 621A Global Issues: Introduction- What is a global issue?
- Geography 631A Global Issues: Introduction - What Is a Global Issue
- Geography 631A Global Issues: What Can I Do?
- Quebec
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science & Technology: The Living World
- Yukon Territory
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 9: The biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere are interconnected, as matter cycles and energy flows through them.
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science 12: Living sustainably supports the well-being of self, community, and Earth.
- Environmental Science 12: Sustainable land use is essential to meet the needs of a growing population
Themes Addressed
Air, Atmosphere & Climate (1)
- Climate Change
Citizenship (2)
- Ecological Footprint
- Sustainable Consumption
Energy (1)
- Energy Use
Food & Agriculture (3)
- Conventional Farming
- Food Security
- Local Food
Human Health & Environment (1)
- Hunger and Malnutrition
Water (1)
- Water Use
