feeding9billion.com

What It Is

Feeding 9 Billion is a global food security education initiative under Canada’s University of Guelph. Its core goal is to help young people understand global issues such as food, agriculture, and hunger through accessible, evidence-based content, and to encourage them to take part in improving future food systems. It is more of a nonprofit/educational resource hub than a traditional online course platform.

Core Content and Formats

The platform covers topics including global food security, agricultural systems, food prices, inequality, climate change, land grabbing, and hunger. Its resources come in a variety of formats, including whiteboard videos, the strategy card game F9B: The Card Game, the #foodcrisis graphic novel, audio dramas, podcasts, blogs, and webinars. A key strength is its ability to turn complex issues into formats that are easier for teenagers to engage with—for example, using a tabletop game to simulate how a country can secure its food supply under rising food prices, energy crises, and climate pressure.

Instructors and Institutional Background

The project was launched by Dr. Evan Fraser, a geography professor at the University of Guelph, Director of the Arrell Food Institute, and Canada Research Chair in Global Food Security. This gives the initiative strong academic credibility. The team also includes education consultants, creative consultants, resource coordinators, and university student contributors. It also mentions collaboration with AgScape to align materials with the Ontario curriculum, making the resources suitable for classroom use.

Pricing and Certificates

Based on the collected information, the platform provides free lesson plans, selected downloadable materials, videos, and podcast resources. The card game is available as a downloadable print-and-play version, and a physical edition can be purchased from GameCrafter. #foodcrisis can be purchased on Lulu.com, while joining the mailing list provides access to a free PDF and sample lesson plans. Specific prices are not disclosed. The website does not show any accreditation, completion certificates, or credit arrangements.

Pros and Cons

Its strengths are its public educational value, serious subject matter presented in an engaging way, strong credibility from its university research background, and teacher-friendly classroom implementation materials. Its limitations are that it is not a full LMS platform: there is no structured learning path, assessment system, certificate, or progress tracking. Some purchases and video resources may also depend on third-party platforms, so pricing and accessibility need to be checked separately.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is suitable for teachers of secondary-school geography, social sciences, agriculture, and sustainability courses, as well as students interested in food systems and social issues. Access from mainland China cannot be determined from the text alone. If resources redirect to external platforms such as YouTube, some content may be restricted, so it is recommended to test access and download available materials before class.