Exploring the global impact of food, energy and water security

Rather than traditional lectures, the course is centered around in-depth debates. Topics range from the environmental consequences of large-scale infrastructure projects to the food security implications of geopolitical conflicts, such as recent shipping disruptions in the Red Sea. Debate topics include such questions as “Is it possible to transform agriculture towards negative emissions?” and “Should we reduce global dependence on United States crop and animal production?” 

Debate teams are composed of students from various academic backgrounds; engineering students might work alongside those studying veterinary medicine or food science, for example. Instructors are from the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, the Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Departments of Animal Science and Food Science at Cornell; the University of Arkansas; the University of Puerto Rico; Nanjing Agricultural University, China Agricultural University and Hefei University of Technology in China; and TATA Institute of Social Sciences and Plaksha University in India. 

This diversity encourages students to learn across discipline and culture. “In one memorable debate about animal production, a student who is a vegetarian advocated in favor of animal agriculture, basing the argument on scientific evidence rather than personal beliefs,” said Lei. “That’s because the class challenges students to separate biases from objective evidence, to navigate cultural differences, and to be patient and open-minded.”

Established in 2017, the course's scope has evolved to address emerging global issues. Recent additions to the curriculum include artificial intelligence in agriculture, digital farming technologies and the impact of geopolitical conflicts on global food markets. “In the future, we also hope to invite lecturers from Africa and South America,” said Lei.

The course bridges the gap between academic research and real-world applications, said Emile Fierro Morel. Students and institutions are deeply committed, and classes are coordinated across time zones. 

“Students learn that global challenges cannot be addressed in isolation from economic policies, water resources or energy systems.” - Emile Fierro Morel

“You have to be an active listener and collaborator,” Fierro explained. “The debates consider how culture influences approaches to environmental challenges, such as India's water stress and groundwater depletion, or the environmental impact of local practices like crop burning.

“Students learn that global challenges cannot be addressed in isolation from economic policies, water resources or energy systems,” he continued. This holistic approach helps prepare them to be future leaders capable of tackling complex issues with nuanced understanding and international cooperation.

“While not every class can be structured like this one, we need more classes that can expand students’ worldview and connect across disciplines,” Fierro said. “Global Food, Energy and Water Nexus is a dynamic course that’s always changing based on the latest science, and it’s responsive to the needs of students and society.”

Caroline Stamm ’24 is a communications assistant for the Cornell CALS Department of Animal Science.