October 19, 2022 — Driven by a common mission of using science and environmental understanding to help save the planet, green chemistry education nonprofit Beyond Benign and plant-based food pioneer Impossible Foods today announced the release of “Plate to Planet” – a new food and environmental science curriculum for elementary educators.

The “Plate to Planet” module engages students with sustainability lessons relevant to their everyday lives. The interdisciplinary module is designed for educators of grade levels 3-5, focused on explaining the environmental challenges of the global food system. The lessons address topics like biodiversity and climate change, sustainability science, and how food science can be used to inform climate solutions. The goal of the program is to inspire the next generation of problem solvers to imagine how they can play a part in creating change.

The module was developed with a team of educators and piloted by a group of teachers in the 2021-2022 school year. In a follow-up survey, Nicollette LeTellier – a teacher from Swift Water Elementary School involved in the pilot program – said: “This curriculum is essential for building an understanding of green chemistry, biodiversity, sustainability, and our footprint on the Earth.” The student feedback has been similarly enthusiastic, with one sharing: “Wow, I never knew science could be so fun!”

Kate Anderson, Director of K-12 Education at Beyond Benign, led the curriculum development in concert with a team of educators. “It was a joy working with Impossible Foods to create an impactful unit that teaches students about the impacts of food and how green chemistry inventions can help create solutions to such immense environmental challenges.”

Laura Kliman, Director of New Product Development at Impossible Foods, helped support the “Plate to Planet” curriculum development. “Young people are more engaged than ever in the fight to save the planet, and we can do our part to help give them the skills needed to develop sustainable solutions. There’s so much to be excited about when it comes to science, and it’s more important than ever to teach the scientific building blocks of sustainability, especially in the context of our food system. We’re honored to work with Beyond Benign to help inspire the next generation of children and change makers.”

 

About Beyond Benign:

Beyond Benign develops and disseminates green chemistry and sustainable science educational resources that empower educators, students and the community at large to practice sustainability through chemistry. Beyond Benign works directly with educators and a network of strategic partners focused on science education, sustainability, innovation and initiatives supporting human and environmental health to provide an educational continuum from K-12 to higher education with an important community engagement component.

Media Contacts:

Beyond Benign – Nicki Wiggins, Beyond Benign Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships; (619) 549-1944, nicki_wiggins@beyondbenign.org

Impossible Foods – Megan Collins, PR@impossiblefoods.com