FDSC41020 Food Security

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current burden of food and nutritional insecurities in both developing and developed countries across the globe. It explains the main traditional pillars of food security, primarily food access, availability and utilisation, in both temporal dimensions (chronic and transitory). It also addresses the main treats to food security including climate change and environmental shocks; population increase and the modern food system and disruptions in the food chain. Different actions needed to ensure the future of food security, proposed and initiated by the authorities, agencies and governments across the globe are addressed.
The content covers multiple dimensions: geographical, historical, and thematic. The historical development of concepts and approaches to food security are discussed, from entitlements concept to vulnerability and the sustainable livelihoods frameworks, to the most recently proposed concept of resilience, and how this transition influences the way interventions around food security are designed and implemented. The food systems’ perspective on food security and system thinking approach are utilised to establish the interdepandance with other elements of the modern food systems, inlcuding sustanable food production, processing, transport and distribution.
In addition to lectures that aim to provide broad understanding of the challenges and solutions in the food security domain, the tutorials are designed to provide case examples and foster critical assessment of the complexities, specificities and emerging challenges, and explore methods and tools used in the assessment of food insecurity as well as the solutions that have the potential to bring change to the most vulnerable populations and communities.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Identify main components of food security and understand the burden and consequences of food insecurity on health
2. Identify the main treats to food security and actions proposed by agencies and governments to mitigate them
3. Discuss the historical development of approaches to food insecurity and how they affect initiatives and programmes focused on combating food insecurity
4. Understand the complexities and specificities of food security issues across the globe
5. Understand the effects of all elements of modern food systems on food security and utilise the system thinking approach in the assessment of the design and implementation of solutions in the area of food security

Indicative Module Content:

Food security; Resilience; Household security; Food Accessibility; Food Availability; Sustainability; Food system; Globalisation; Climate change; Sustainable Development Goals; Humanitarian crises; Covid-19;

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Tutorial

6
Autonomous Student Learning

96
Online Learning

18
Total

120
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Active/task-based learning; lectures; critical writing; reflective learning; enquiry & problem-based learning; case-based learning; student presentation;

 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: An original piece of work (essay, powerpoint presentation, short video) that demonstrates a student's understanding of challenges in the area of food security and proposes an original approach Week 10 n/a Graded Yes

40
Multiple Choice Questionnaire (Short): Two short MCQ throughout the semester to support the students in the continuous engagement with the content and enable the proper constructing of the knowledge. Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

20
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: A final exam based on MCQ and short questions, covering the content delivered throughout the semester End of trimester MCQ n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% Yes

40

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 1 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Béné, C., & Devereux, S. (2023). Resilience and food security in a food systems context. Palgrave Macmillan.
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 

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