Designing for Food and Farms into the Future

What does society need to transition to a net zero economy and stop climate change?

The answer to that question is quite complex and involves individuals, communities, businesses, industries and governments all working together to establish policies and guidelines as well as design, manufacture and implement the infrastructure to achieve our goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing carbon from the atmosphere.

For any of this to happen, society needs highly skilled and passionate people who want to make a difference and work in these industries - which is exactly where these resources come in!

Collaborating with our generous philanthropic partners, The Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation and Boundless Earth, this Primary Design and Technology unit, Designing for Food and Farms into the Future, has been designed to educate students about climate change and develop an increased awareness of and confidence to become climate solution entrepreneurs, as well as a desire to consider sustainability jobs in our future which will be incredibly important as we transition to a net zero economy.

This Designing for Food and Farms into the Future unit aims to allow exploration of how sustainable land use and management practices can influence society's ability to transition to a net zero economy by focusing on why and how food and fibre are produced in managed environments. Students will investigate the importance of agriculture, how it has evolved over time and what factors influence how food and fibre are produced, including soil quality, as well as the societal, economic and environmental impacts these agricultural processes have on our world. Students will also explore how First Nations Australians managed the waterways sustainably with the design of their fish and eel traps and the cultural significance of Bush Foods, as well as the environmental and economic benefits of harnessing this ancient knowledge in a modern context. Technology's role in sustainable agriculture will be investigated, with the unit culminating in students designing the ideal farm of the future considering a range of social, economic and environmental factors.

These resources have been designed to support teachers to feel confident teaching about transitioning to a net zero economy using real-world examples whilst also enabling their students to take socially and environmentally responsible, positive action.