InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Future of Food > Student Materials > Section 2: Environmental Dynamics and Drivers > Module 4: Food and Water > Module 4.1: Water Resources and Food Production
InTeGrate's Earth-focused Modules and Courses for the Undergraduate Classroom
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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These student materials complement the Future of Food Instructor Materials. If you would like your students to have access to the student materials, we suggest you either point them at the Student Version which omits the framing pages with information designed for faculty (and this box). Or you can download these pages in several formats that you can include in your course website or local Learning Managment System. Learn more about using, modifying, and sharing InTeGrate teaching materials.
Initial Publication Date: January 11, 2018

Module 4.1: Water Resources and Food Production

Introduction

How much water do you eat? Water is essential for food production. In this unit, you will learn about water as an essential ingredient to grow the food that we eat, including plants and animal products. The concepts of photosynthesis, evapotranspiration, and crop consumptive water use are introduced followed by an overview of the spatial variability of precipitation and the resulting need for irrigation. The final activity will introduce you to virtual water embedded in the food you eat and your water footprint.

The short animated video that follows was produced by the United Nations' Water group for World Water Day and illustrates how much water is embedded in a few different food products. The numbers are given in liters, so it's helpful to remember that there are 3.8 liters per gallon. A liter is a little bigger than a quart. In this module, we'll look at why it takes so much water to produce food and you'll estimate how much water you eat.

Video: All You Eat (0:49)

If you do not see the video above, please go to YouTube to watch it.

These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »