Challenge Accepted?

Pollinator populations are shrinking, and several factors are contributing to this disturbing global trend. There are growing concerns as to what the impact will be on food production. Through this challenge, students will become more aware of the important role pollinators play in our daily lives and how to help protect the various populations. After thoughtful research, students will design, test and demonstrate a solution that will sustain or improve pollinator well-being.

Identify the Challenge

More than 90 species of U.S. specialty crops require pollination, and various animals, including bees, butterflies, moths, bats, and birds, are a critical part of the pollinator-plant ecosystem. Pollinators affect 35 percent of the world’s crop production. There have been concerns regarding pollinator populations for decades. According to the United Nations, it’s estimated there will be nearly 10 billion people on Earth by 2050. Pollinators play an important role in food production that’s essential to feeding the human population.

Challenge Question

What can we do to sustain or improve pollinator well-being?

This system must address the following needs:

• Determine what might be causing the decline in the number of pollinators.
• Provide a solution to maintain or sustain the population of a chosen species of pollinators.

Success will be determined by:

• Constructing a plan that incorporates methods to maintain or increase the population of a chosen pollinator population.
• Estimating how sustaining or increasing the pollinator population will help feed a growing human population.

This experience is designed for kids, but must be submitted by an adult over the age of 18. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) prevents The Purple Plow Challenge from collecting personal information online from children under age 13.

• Do not include student names, school name or any other personal information in the body of the response questions. Enter school and contact information only in the specific designated areas of the form.

Do your photos need a release? Any photo that shows the face of a student or recognizable characteristics of that student requires an official AFBFA photo release form. (DOWNLOAD HERE). Here are some tips for taking pictures that Do Not require a photo release: Take pictures of

• Student prototypes only
• Students’ hands working on projects
• Over-the-shoulder pictures of students working from behind.