GD1 Maryam Alsuwaidi p B E- Booklet Design

I Grow Seeds Campaign Engaging the Society

Kulna Story

“All of Us” at Zayed University

FULL SUN FLOWER Zero Waste

Sustainable compost

Kulna Community Garden Permaculture Community Garden

Global Food Security project drawdown Project Drawdown, led by Paul Hawken, details 100 ways we can If we change the preposition, and take greenhouse gasses (as carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents) out of consider that global warming is happening for us – an atmospheric the atmosphere. The solutions have potential to either reduce emissions transformation that inspires us to change and reimagine everything or sequester 1,052.04 gigatons (gigaton = 1 billion metric tons) of we make and do – we begin to CO2 equivalents between 2020 live in a different world. We take 100 percent responsibility and stop and 2015. Drawdown is the point where globally we start to reduce blaming others. We see global warming not as an inevitability but atmospheric CO2. as an invitation to build, innovate, and effect change, a pathway that The project groups 80 solutionss into 7 clusters, and the cluster that awakens creativity, compassion, can generate the highest reduction and genius. This is not a liberal – 31%, is food. Between 2020 and agenda, nor is it a conservative 2050, food initiatives that are alone. This is a human agenda. ready underway can reduce CO2 by 321.9 gigatonnes.

Paul Hawken writes:

FULL SUN FLOWER

UAE Food Issues and Local Solutions The UAE has made substantial investments towards its food security and it benefits from a number of key strengths that have made it food secure. Strong diplomatic and trade relations, easy access to trade markets, and well-functioning trade ports have enabled easy access to food supplies through food import strategies. However, the UAE also faces a number of challenges that threaten its food security that will likely persist in the future. The UAE’s most glaring challenge, that differentiates it from many food-secure countries in the world, is its climate. As a desert, the UAE has a very limited amount of arable land, suffers from extreme weather in the summer time, and sees very little rain fall. This climate poses a huge challenge not just for domestic food production, but also for food storage. Water supply is extremely limited and a reliance on desalination makes agricultural production difficult. The following sections will detail the UAE’s food security strengths, challenges, opportunities and threats.

threaten the UAE as it is currently able to finance the risks, but any shocks to the UAE’s economy would immediately affect food availability and affordability. Rising domestic food prices may pose a political risk if the population finds itself unwilling or unable to pay the prices. A rising cost of living means that food may become unaffordable for portions of the population if subsidies were ever lifted.

These issues are aggravated by a rise in demand for food and by eating preferences that are highly diverse and globalized. Food consumption in the UAE is growing due to the influx of tourists, and to overall population growth. Food consumption in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as a whole is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% “from an estimated 48.1 million MT (metric tons) in 2016 to 59.2 million MT in 2021”18.

Why the Food Revolution for Social Change at Zayed University?

Long-term food security has been a key strategic goal for the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which ranks 21 on the Global Food Security Index (The Economist Group, 2019). The country is vulnerable to food shortages, price volatility, and supply restrictions, producing very little of what is consumed by its population and wasting 197 kg of food each year. Its arid landscapes, water scarcity, and extreme temperatures represent an urgent need to create a resilient ecosystem that sustains local agricultural production in the long run. To alleviate this pressing issue, the government has devised a National Food Security Strategy to “develop a comprehensive national system based on enabling sustainable food production, enhancing local production, activating legislation and policies that contribute to improving nutrition and reducing waste.

Zayed University (ZU) envisioned the sustainable development goals of the UAE with one of its educational mandates, which is to nurture ‘young leaders of tomorrow’. With this approach, ZU offers learning opportunities to students in order to equip them with creative problem-solving. ZU is an internationally-accredited government-sponsored institution of higher education in the UAE. The student body is mainly Emirati women, with a community of faculty, researchers, and staff from multinational backgrounds. Primed to implement the vision of the government, the University supported the research cluster ‘Co-Designing Food Revolution for Social Change’ (CFRSC), which established the KULNA COMMUNITY GARDEN (meaning “all of us” in Arabic, the official language of the UAE), inviting the ZU, local, and international communities to collaborate on building a new food system on campus.

KULNA Community Garden: Co-designing Food System from 3 raised bed to sanctuary

Community gardening is lauded as an urban planning tool to enhance local food systems while improving degraded urban environments. To understand how best to expand community gardening participation, this study explores the perceived benefits of community gardening in Baltimore, Maryland. In-depth interviews and focused group interviews with community gardeners revealed that gardens provide benefits at multiple levels, creating an “urban oasis� that provides refuge from urban decay while revitalizing city neighborhoods. At the individual level, gardeners underscored psychological benefits, including pride and a connection with nature. At the neighborhood level, gardeners developed trusting relationships with their neighbors and shared learning experiences. At the community level, gardeners perceived that gardens reclaim city space by cleaning up degraded lots, creating gathering places, and improving the food environment. The variety of perceived benefits that gardens provide to individuals and their communities should be promoted as a tool for developing healthy urban environments.

Permaculture Community Garden -The choice of site is very important to the long term success of a community garden. Some gardens have been established for years and then, the council changes it’s mind and wants the land back. Other sites become a really useful part of their neighbourhood and this is the ideal.

-A good site is one that has good morning sun and good neighbourhood views into the site, where people can see what is going on.

- Most Community Gardens have allocated space for individuals to have their own gardens. These are called allotments. But they should also have productive shared spaces such as orchards, tool shed, paths, water features, windbreaks, and community activity areas.

- Some animals can be encouraged such as wildlife and chickens with safe housing.

- Recycling center for equipment and building materials. A Shared bike shed to encourage repairs. Abundant fruit grows in a shared orchard.

Permaculture Has Always Promoted The Growing of Food in the Cities. For many people Community Gardens are the best option. WHY? By growing food in the cities, transport costs are cut, people are encouraged to eat healthy food, and get exercise gardening.

Participants and even spectators can feel empowered and socialised in a productive, dynamic community project. But did you know? Permaculture Can Design Pleasant and Efficient Community Gardens - The allotments can be shaped to hold water (they can lie on the contour and be curved to capture water, like swales. They don’t have to be rectangular. And even if they are rectangular, they can run along the contour to minimise erosion and optimise water catchment.

- The allotments can also be positioned to optimise solar exposure.

- Windbreaks can be grown to reduce need to water and damage by wind to crops but allow flow through to reduce fungal spores.

Permaculture practice: planting, recycling, water conservation As the effects of climate change pursue, the necessity to build resilient communities and farms becomes ever more apparent.

Often farmers are stuck dealing with incessant rainfall, hurricanes, floods and droughts. Many innovative water conservation methods have emerged and are being practiced all over the globe — some have been practiced for centuries and others are much newer, however each require different types of resources. Most of these methods provide additional benefits as well, including soil conservation and improvement, enhanced biodiversity, and increased yields. There really is no limit to how many of these methods can be practiced alongside each other and the techniques most efficient for your particular farm will depend on many factors, including geography, climate, size and type of farm. Below is a list of 12 water conservation techniques being used around the world.

1. Mulch: Using natural materials such a and paper products as mulch helps hold water. As the mulch decomposes it beco for the bacteria and organisms living in Mulch deters weed growth, and when u promotes better plant growth. In The O

2. Deep Root Plants and Trees: Plants an ability to store water and not only survi provide water to plants that are grown of this is the enset plant, a calorie-dense Furthermore, trees also store carbon dio climate change. A recent study found th to store up to five times the CO2 typical

3. Stones: Permaculture pioneer and int Sepp Holzer, utilizes stones to retain wa allows trees and plants to grow in clima found. He places large stones around tr reflect it back towards the plant. When a cooling effect which then traps moistu as a natural drip irrigation system. Holz is cooler, when the vegetation is giving lets it seep in.

4. Terraces: These are layers or steps b plane. This prevents water from just run with it and provides a more effective d

5. Swales: Swales are ditches with flat are usually dug out on the outer conto purpose of holding and sinking the wa prevent water from just running down t and provides a more effective design f

as straw, leaves, twigs, small branches d in moisture and therefore conserves omes an excellent source of food n the soil, enhancing the soil quality. used over time, revitalizes soil and One-Straw Revolution Masanobu

nd trees with deep roots have the ive periods of drought, but also around them. A great example e fibrous plant native to Ethiopia. oxide (CO2) and therefore combat hat trees with deep roots were found lly believed.

ternational agricultural consultant, ater and create microclimates. This ates in which they are not naturally rees, for example, to trap heat and stacking rocks he is able to produce ure and creates condensation, acting zer explains that “only when the soil shadow, then it attracts the water and

built into a hill, mountain or sloped nning down the hill, often dragging soil design for farming on inclined surfaces.

bottoms that collect water. They ours of a particular landscape for the ater. This helps hydrate the soil. Swales the hill, often dragging soil with it, for farming on inclined surfaces.

Story of I Grow Seeds Campaign 2019 Curriculum integration, ZU community participation, garden expansion, aided in encompassing a wider community participation. Working with ECLE was a delightful synergic col laboration for youngsters and students. I Grow Seeds campaign, from course integration to community outreach with campaign exhibitions were held at both ZU campuses and Jaddaf Aloud/Jameel Art Center. Students developed potential seed starter kits, story-booklets, and garden furniture. KULNA garden facilitated space and resources to supportCNHS biology, COURSE INTEGRATION AND COLLABORATION Curriculum integration, ZU community participation, garden expansion,aided in encompassing a wider community participation. Working with ECLE was a delightful synergic collaboration for youngsters and students. I Grow Seeds campaign, from course integration to community outreach with campaign exhibitions were held at both ZU campuses and Jaddaf Aloud/Jameel Art Center. Students developed potential seed starter kits, story-book lets, and garden furniture. KULNA garden facilitated space and resources to support CNHS biology, and microbiology courses.

K

ulan Garden + Techniques KACTION / REFLECTION 2019-2017 LEARNING

BY DOING WITH ALL ACTORS Through open studios, lectures, workshops, class visits, communit outreach and promotional campaigns,KULNA implemented co-designed food system solutions for the ZU community. Members played an active role in enhancing their capacity and engaging their lives in relation to nature, community life, and sustainability. As a result, a few radical R+D collaborations have organically ensued with the Ministry of Climate Change, ICBA, Biochar, environmental club.senior projects, Educational programs for the Early Childhood Learning Center, KULNA student club, microbiology club, and environmental club.

STORIES OF C H A N G E Who says good girls don’t get their hands dirty?

A common stereotype many of our female students have had to overcome is that “girls don’t like to get their hands dirty, or work outdoors with the soil. ” This story follows the experiences of Kulna’s student leader Almanar. Almanar’s journey

has taken her from a rather quie In early 2017, I was a student of multimedia design at Zayed University. One of my art professors was Professor. Yunsun Chung, and she was a major inspiration to my joining the Food Research Cluster.

I Grow Seeds Campaign Pledge ‘I Grow Seeds Campaign’ is a student-led initiative of Food Revolution for Social Change research cluster at Zayed University in collaboration with Kulna Community connecting art, design, science, education, and sustainability by inviting our communities to pledge, plant, and grow seeds. The food system challenges can’t be solved by a few groups of people. It calls ‘All Of Us’! Our aim is to raise awareness of food issues, bringing positive and sustainable social change through collective actions.

It’s an interaction and exhibition, where graphic and interior design, multi media, visual art students will be presenting their projects encouraging the growing of seeds, and creating promises for a greener future promoting sustainability and social action.

How can you visit the exhibition?

Come visit our exhibition space at Zayed University, Dubai Campus, Atrium Wing C/D. Note: If you are from outside the university please register prior to Saturday 5 Pm. Limited spaces available. Only registered and invited guests will have an entrance access.

Take part in the I Grow Seeds Campaign Pledge by following the pledge instructions.

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