LAND, FOOD & YOU

Our Land, Food & You program supports teachers in fostering student interest in local and global food-system issues as they relate to the BC high school curriculum. This program introduces students to LFS degree programs, while providing insight into the student experience. Our outreach team of LFS students will work with you to customize a learning experience that best suits you and your students: a combination of a UBC Farm tour, a Faculty info presentation, or an interactive workshop.

We are lucky to have the Centre For Sustainable Food Systems at the UBC Farm in our own backyard. Our team of Student Ambassadors can lead your group on a tour to learn more about:

The exciting research happening at the Farm
How LFS students engage with the Farm both in and outside their classes
The UBC Farm’s Indigenous initiatives when you visit the unceded ancestral territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people

If you are interested in joining us for an in-person farm tour, please contact the LFS Student Ambassadors.

Let our LFS Student Ambassadors introduce you to our faculty’s areas of expertise including the topics of food security, sustainability, and nutrition! Each workshop is developed from subjects discussed in real LFS classrooms. We engage with students in virtual or in-person workshops to give them a sense of what they will learn within our degree programs.

Our workshops allow students to critically evaluate and understand real world issues. If your students are interested in learning more about our programs, email us to request a customized visit.

Explore our Available Workshops:

Workshop Title	Description
Explore Canada’s 2019 Food Guide	The newest Canada’s Food Guide, released in 2019 was a major departure from its 2007 counterpart. It eliminated serving sizes, gender and age differentiation, and the ‘Dairy and Alternatives’ Food Group. Throughout this workshop, we will consider why these changes were made, and their potential implications on the Canadian population.
Intro to Food Science: Food Spoilage	The good, the bad, and the ugly: this is how food scientists classify microorganisms that interact with our food. Take a deep dive into how microorganisms interact with our food to spoil, poison or enhance it by investigating the impacts of various fungi and bacteria common food products.
Investigating Nutrients: Cure the Deficiency	Take a trip back in time to help an English Ship Captain save his crew from scurvy, the deadly sailor’s disease. Participate in the world’s first ever clinical trial that would later help nutritional scientists identify one of the most famous vitamins: Vitamin C.
Deep Dive into Diet and Wellness Culture	In this workshop, take a deep dive into diet and wellness culture. What is it? How prevalent is it? What sort of impacts can it have on us, and what can we do to recognize diet culture and avoid its pitfalls?

Applied Animal Biology

Workshop Title	Description
Behind the Scenes of Global Agribusiness	Why are your bananas so cheap? Global agribusinesses are competing for the lowest prices in order to make the highest profit. Learn how global agribusiness has historically impacted farmers, health, and the environment AND how they continue to do so today.
Animal Welfare and Ethics	Learn about animal sentience, dominant theories of animal welfare, and common challenges faced when animals are used in human society. What are their common stressors? What governing bodies are in charge of protecting them? How can we minimize potential harm?
Wildlife Conflict Towards Coexistence	Explore the impacts of human-wildlife conflicts on wildlife populations in urban areas. Dive into the complex issues facing wildlife management and conservation as well as adaptations to coexist in shared spaces.

Sustainable Agriculture

Workshop Title	Description
Supply Management of The Canadian Dairy Industry	What does an economic system have to do with public nutrition, animal welfare, and producer livelihoods? Learn about Canada’s controversial policy framework that controls the price and production of poultry and dairy products, and how it affects more than just the price of milk.
Climate Change and Staple Foods	Staple foods make up the vast majority of the world's energy and nutrient intake. Climate change has already begun to impact the quality and yield of these foods. What are the implications of these changes?
Sustainable Food and Agriculture: Soil	What is soil degradation and how does it happen? Is it a bad thing, and what can we do to prevent it? In this workshop, get an introduction to Soil Science: where soil comes from, what it is used for, and how we can protect it to maintain healthy, sustainable food systems.

Land and Food Systems General

Workshop Title	Description
Entomophagy: Insects as a Sustainable Food Source	The consumption of insects as food has long been practiced in many different regions of the world. In recent years, it has grown in popularity internationally. Dive into the many reasons for this!
Appropriation of Staple Foods	Dive into the complexities of food gentrification and appropriation of staple foods in local and global food systems. Explore these concepts and how western culture and diet trends impact small-scale farms, traditional cultivation, and access to staple food items in minority communities.
Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Food Systems	Indigenous ways of living, knowing and being are commonly neglected from Western culture. In this workshop, learn about Indigenous knowledge and the impacts it has had on western culture historically and in current times.
Gender Equality in the Food systems	Gender inequality and food insecurity have a direct relationship with one another. Take a deep dive into the ways that women and girls may be disproportionately impacted by food insecurity, and what we can do to combat this.
Evaluating GMOs	How do Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) impact climate, health, and community? There are pros and cons to the innovation and use of GMOs. Learn about both sides in this argument and discuss where you fall.

If you have students interested in learning more about the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and our programs, our LFS Student Ambassadors can visit you virtually or in-person to give an engaging presentation. They can cover topics such as:

What makes our Faculty and programs unique
Our four Undergraduate Bachelor of Science Degrees
The student experience
Admissions next steps to LFS at UBC

If your students are interested in learning more about themes explored in our programs, you can email us to request a customized visit.

Meet the Outreach Team

We are the LFS Student Ambassadors and Indigenous Outreach Coordinator – current LFS students who are working with the LFS Student Services team to meet prospective students interested in applying to our programs and to raise the profile of our exciting Faculty. If you are joining us for an event, like Taste of LFS or UBC Welcomes You, or want to work with us to coordinate a Land, Food, and You program with your school, do not hesitate to reach out. We can’t wait to meet you! You can learn more about our LFS experience and why we chose this Faculty for our post-secondary studies in our bios below.

Caroline Baldwin

After finishing my undergraduate degree in Dietetics, I hope to do graduate research that contributes to the world's collective understanding of human nutrition.

Kynzie Wagar

I have always had a love of animals and science! After finishing my undergraduate degree in Applied Animal Biology, I hope to go to veterinary school.

Ayasha Santoso

I greatly value how nutrition influences our life choices and hope to pursue a healthcare career that involves strengthening the health and well-being of others.

Sofia Faugno

I hope to become a Dietitian to create an environment that supports inclusion and equity for all people, and to help them develop positive relationships with food.

What Comes Next?

Still Have Questions?

If you’re interested in a unique first-year experience, explore Land One: our first-year cohort program in collaboration with the Faculty of Forestry.

EXPLORE LAND ONE

Whether you’ve got questions about your program, your experience or your next steps, LFS Student Services is here to help. Get in touch.