#HC-04-59 Future Food: Sustainable Food Systems for the 21st Century
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- Course level: All Levels
About Course
University of ExeterDescription
Learn to define key terms related to sustainable food
What are sustainable food systems? And why are they so important for the future? With this course, you can explore these questions and more.
You’ll learn about how our understanding of diet, health, and food production is changing, why food security and sustainable agriculture is essential, and how we can make positive future steps.
Learn how culture, sustainability, and technology is changing the future of food production
Food production has transformed our planet. Currently, 40% of the land’s surface is used for agriculture, meaning soils and freshwater are under threat, and fisheries are overexploited.
With this sustainable food systems course, you’ll discover why this means that millions of smallholders are facing economic uncertainty, and how just four transnational companies control the global grain supply.
Explore the challenges of climate change and the proposed solutions
Ultimately, by 2050, we must feed 9 billion people in the face of a changing climate. You’ll find out how agroecology sustainable food systems can help through economic, social, and environmental incentives. On this course, you’ll learn about some of the obstacles facing the future of food production, as well as some potential solutions.
Find out how changing and sustainable food systems can impact you and the planet
You’ll also learn about the global food system as a whole, as you explore everything from individual food choice to the impact of agriculture on climate change.
The future of food will be shaped by a change in our attitudes towards consumption and production. With this course, you can find out how sustainable agriculture and food systems can play a part in creating this future.
What topics will you cover?
Diets and Health
- Changing food cultures
- Diets for personal and planetary health
- The drivers of eating behaviour
Impacts of Production
- How crops have changed the planet
- Over-fishing and fisheries
- Livestock farming and the environment
Food Security
- Adapting to climate change
- Conserving our soils
- Novel technologies
Food Governance
- Empowering farmers and smallholders
- Food as a commodity
- Ecosystem services
Who will you learn with?
I am an Associate Professor in Psychology who studies human eating behaviour and develops novel interventions to help people eat more healthily and sustainably.
Dr Dan Bebber is an ecologist with an interest in the impacts of climate change on diseases of agricultural crops. His current research focuses on diseases of tropical crops like bananas and coffee.
I am a botanist and science educator. I work for a project developing diverse pastures on UK farms. I’m also a keen allotment grower.
Who developed the course?
The University of Exeter is a Russell Group university. It combines world-class research with very high levels of student satisfaction.
What Will I Learn?
- Investigate global patterns and trends of food consumption and production
- Discuss what sustainability means with reference to food
- Explain where and how to find reliable information about food
- Debate the main issues related to food
- Discuss how individuals choose their food and what effects this has
- Explore how technological advances are changing the food system
Topics for this course
Welcome!
Welcome and course overview VIDEO (03:15)00:03:15
Meet the team ARTICLE
Now introduce yourself DISCUSSION
A journey round a food system VIDEO (04:52)00:04:52
Food cultures
You are what you eat
Summary and reflect
Material Includes
- Official Certificate
Tags
Target Audience
- The course is designed for anyone interested in food sustainability. Whether you’re thinking about a career related to the future of food or sustainable agriculture, or simply want to find out more about these fascinating areas, this is the course for you.