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AERD40130

Academic Year 2024/2025

Food Policy and Industry Responses (AERD40130)

Subject:
Agribus Extension & Rural Dev
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr James Breen
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module aims to foster an understanding of the regulation of the food industry from the farm through to the end consumer, including the rationale for government intervention, the means by which intervention takes place, and the impact of policy.

The topics to be covered will include:
- Rationale for government intervention in food markets
- Policy/regulatory mechanisms in the UK/EU
- Objectives, mechanisms and evaluation of selected contemporary food policy issues such as:
- Food security
- Market Power, competition, competitiveness
- International Trade Legislation
- Food safety
- Food quality
- Obesity, diet and health
- Environmental and ethical issues, sustainability

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Following the course, students should be able to critically appraise current and proposed interventions in food markets. More specifically students should be able to: Understand the rationale for Government intervention in the Food Industry; Understand the policy cycle; Critically appraise the effectiveness of different policy interventions; Identify appropriate interventions in the food industry; Understand the regulatory environment within which food businesses operate and the implications for these businesses

Indicative Module Content:

Agricultral Policy
Trade Policy
Environmental Policy
Food Waste
Market Power
Diet and Nutrition and policy to address these challenges
Food Regulation
Food Fraud

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36
Specified Learning Activities

36
Autonomous Student Learning

144
Total

216

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module uses a range of approaches to support teaching and learning. These include lectures, case studies, video clips & in-class discussion. Each lecture focus on a specific food policy topic with discussion of the background to the issue the arguements for government intervention and invited speakers to provide an industry perspective on the need for policy and the consequences of policy.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered

Not yet recorded.

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

The module assessment comprises two assignments with written individual feedback to be provided to students within 3 weeks of the assignment being submitted.

Tim Lang, David Barling and Martin Caraher. Food Policy: Integrating Health, Environment and Society Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Robert Paarlberg. Food Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know

Name Role
Dr James Breen Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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