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This module is only suitable for students on Postgraduate programmes and is not open to students registered to Undergraduate programmes.

Food and food security has always been important to humankind; however the nature of food availability, food production, food supply and food choice is constantly changing. The world’s food system is in disarray. One in ten people is undernourished, one in four is overweight, and more than one-third of the world’s population cannot afford a healthy diet. Food supplies are disrupted by heatwaves, floods, droughts and wars and are responsible for about 30% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Now more than ever we live in a global world where food is traded as a commodity, but systems that impact and interrupt this trade can have dramatic effects on the food we eat. On top of this are the complexities of consumer demands, nutrition, climate change, and sustainability.

This module is relevant to all graduate students interested in food, the global food-web systems, food and the environment, and sustainability.

The module is developed to give students the opportunity to learn about food demand, food production, the major food commodities of the world, animal/plant sourced foods, food waste, and food safety and security. It will also include food and climate change, food and biodiversity, food and energy, future foods, and food in the bioeconomy.