Video Gaps and opportunities for perennial crops

TLF ID M017162

This is a video about the scientific breeding of perennial crops as described at a 2013 workshop, 'Perennial crops for food security', held by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). After giving the big picture regarding perennial crop research, the 16-minute video focuses on the breeding of perennial wheat and its potential uses; how perennial rice might assist with the opportunity costs and available labour for growing annual rice; how lessons can be learnt from perennial plants and trees in the wild and in agroforestry; and how scientific research in this field can help feed the world. The video consists of illustrated interviews with 13 experts from the USA, Italy and China and three from Australia.





Educational details

Educational value
  • This is a valuable resource for the food and fibre component of the science and geography curriculums for years 8 to 10. It is of considerable value for the Science as a Human Endeavour strand in years 8 and 10, particularly for the content descriptions about how science understanding influences the development of practices in areas of human activity such as agriculture, and how the values and needs of contemporary society can influence the focus of scientific research. The interviews with the scientists attending the FAO workshop reveal their commitment to breeding perennial crops as a contribution to sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.
  • The video is also of use for the year 9 geography unit of study, Biomes and food security. It is relevant to content descriptions about the environmental, economic and technological factors that influence crop yields in Australia and across the world, and the capacity of the world's environments to sustainably feed the projected future population to achieve food security for Australia and the world. As seen in the video, genetic breeding of perennial crops has the potential to enhance food security, diversify crop uses and possibly increase overall crop yields.
Year level

8; 9; 10

Learning area
  • Geography
  • Science
  • Humanities and Social Sciences

Other details

Contributors
  • Contributor
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Description: Data manager
  • Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/
  • Copyright Holder
  • Name: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
  • Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
  • URL: http://www.fao.org/home/en/
  • Publisher
  • Name: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
  • Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
  • Description: Publisher
  • URL: http://www.fao.org/home/en/
  • Resource metadata contributed by
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
Access profile
  • Unknown
Learning Resource Type
  • Video
Rights
  • © FAO, 2014. This material may be used in accordance with the Standard YouTube License at http://www.youtube.com/t/terms.