YES-30306 Global Food Security

Course

Credits 6.00

Assumed knowledge on:

all competence subjects of BIL or Bsc ILW

Contents:

'Food Security' means that all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Especially in developing countries, many people are 'food insecure'. This (ß 'sciences' + ? 'social sciences') interdisciplinary course focuses on what it means to be 'food insecure' and examines causes and solutions for this problem. The scope is from global to sub-household level. It aims at linking disciplines related to availability (production, processing), access (distribution, entitlements) and quality (health, acceptability, utilization). Approaches come from the disciplines Economics, Nutrition, Social Sciences, Food Science, Production Ecology and Natural Resource Management and Animal Husbandry. The second halve of the course is an intensive practical, devoted to hands-on project development, considering the complexity of food insecurity at district and household level. The students analyse a situation of regional food insecurity, and use a logical framework for designing a (better) project. The course has a tight schedule and the students get a high degree of exposure. The number of participants is restricted, early registration is required.

Aims:

- to gain knowledge and insight in the complex issue of food and nutrition security;
- to be able to make a justified consideration of what the own disciplinary contribution can be for improving food security in different contexts;
- to enhance abilities to think interdisciplinary and to work in a multidisciplinary team.

Activities:

Lecture attendance, group discussions, role play, individual reading, case studies (in groups).

Examination:

Quality of participation and written tests.