Debate kit - food security

The aim of this kit is to show students how complex the issue of global food security is, and to encourage them to begin to consider and investigate some of the main issues surrounding the ethics of food production. Role play gives students a chance to explore the different sides of the issue and compare others’ points of view, as well as considering social, ethical and factual issues in an integrated way. Included in the kit are eight debate cards outlining the opinions of a number of different fictional characters with an interest in food security. The question posed for the debate is: Should our school only buy food produced in the UK?

Arguing for only UK-produced food:

• Leanne Roberts - a farmer who cares about British farmers and the UK being self sufficient in food

• Toby Swan - an allotment owner who believes that growing our own food makes us value it more and waste less

• Jim Kernow - a fundraiser who wants us to stop taking away scarce resources from those in poorer countries

• Corrine Radford - a green campaigner who thinks we should reduce carbon emissions by not transporting food long distances

Arguing against only UK-produced food:

• Helen Harvey - a fair trade fruit importer who believes food should be grown in countries with the right climate and shipped rather than flown over

• Anya Katzmareck - a vegetarian restauranteur who thinks it’s what we eat that matters, not where it is from

• Tony Percy - a chocolate fan who wants an interesting and varied diet

• Murad Kamal - an ecologist who cares about the damage farming can do to the environment