Our eating habits affect land use not only within our own country but also in distant regions of the world. The excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers to increase yields has contributed significantly to the loss of biodiversity. Developing knowledge of seasonal and locally produced foods is therefore essential to counteract such agricultural practices. By consuming more local produce, we can help mitigate the environmental disadvantages associated with industrial production and long-distance transportation. Research has shown that the impact of school gardens can be profound: students with gardening experience demonstrate greater knowledge of crop cultivation and are more likely to eat vegetables—even those that do not meet commercial aesthetic standards—than their peers without such experience. School gardens can thus play a crucial role in fostering awareness of plant diversity and positively influencing students’ dietary habits. In line with the World Health Organization’s One Health approach (2024), which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, plants and environmental health, protecting biodiversity contributes to making the world healthier for all. In this way, school gardening supports key objectives of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

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Regional and Seasonal Food Production as a Contribution to Biodiversity Protection

  • Dorothee Benkowitz,
  • Svenja Baumgartinger

摘要

Our eating habits affect land use not only within our own country but also in distant regions of the world. The excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers to increase yields has contributed significantly to the loss of biodiversity. Developing knowledge of seasonal and locally produced foods is therefore essential to counteract such agricultural practices. By consuming more local produce, we can help mitigate the environmental disadvantages associated with industrial production and long-distance transportation. Research has shown that the impact of school gardens can be profound: students with gardening experience demonstrate greater knowledge of crop cultivation and are more likely to eat vegetables—even those that do not meet commercial aesthetic standards—than their peers without such experience. School gardens can thus play a crucial role in fostering awareness of plant diversity and positively influencing students’ dietary habits. In line with the World Health Organization’s One Health approach (2024), which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, plants and environmental health, protecting biodiversity contributes to making the world healthier for all. In this way, school gardening supports key objectives of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).