Sustainable Future Foods (BIO600)

This course aims to advance your knowledge of the challenges and opportunities that face humanity with respect to securing sustainable food in a world with a growing population and changing climate. In addition to hearing the latest developments in the fields of agriculture, livestock, and fisheries from a biological perspective, you will also gain a strong understanding of societal, environmental, and commercial factors that affect sustainable food production.


Course description for study year 2024-2025

Facts

Course code

BIO600

Version

2

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Spring

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Spring

Language of instruction

English

Content

NB! This is an elective course and may be cancelled if fewer than 10 students are enrolled by January 20th for the spring semester.

This course will enable you to develop a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the pressures and opportunities in the field of sustainable food production. Food security has been a concern for humans since the dawn of history. Archaeological evidence clearly demonstrates the transition from hunting or scavenging to agriculture. As soon as hunter-gatherers settled down and started farming, human civilisation began to flourish.

The growing population on our planet puts demands on available land, which has an impact on agriculture. In addition, the amount of waste produced by the growing world population has an impact on the environment. Although agriculture has traditionally been practised mainly on land, aquaculture could play a greater role in the future. Climate change is also affecting the way people can utilise the land and sea; there will be major challenges but also opportunities in the foreseeable future.

This course brings together experts who will present the complex nature of agriculture in the 21st century. They will address questions such as: How is the climate affecting the land and sea and how will this change in the future? What are the consequences for humanity, including those who make their living from agriculture? What are the current problems and opportunities in agriculture? Does climate change harbour risks other than just changes in temperature and precipitation? Could it also introduce new pathogens that affect agricultural practises?

Experts from academia, industry and government will present the latest trends in sustainable agriculture and explain how we can solve this complex issue.

Learning outcome

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. Evaluate critically major factors influencing modern agriculture.

2. Describe in detail novel approaches to the implementation of sustainable agriculture including procedures to mitigate environmental pollution both to air and waters and an understanding of how pathogens may be transmitted in the environment.

3. Identify and analyse the challenges affecting agriculture including disease.

4. Interpret independently factors affecting sustainability in agriculture.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

5. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of, current problems and/or new insights in sustainable agriculture much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of the field of study.

6. Analyse and evaluate critically essential facts and theories in agriculture.

7. Evaluate critically aspects of current research in agriculture with reference to primary literature and review articles.

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

8. Communicate ideas effectively and professionally by written and oral means.

9.Study autonomously and summarise research results with minimal guidance.

10. Select and effectively manage information drawn from books, scientific journals and the internet.

11. Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate your conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Project assignment and oral exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Project assignment 1/2 3 Weeks Letter grades
Oral exam 1/2 5 Minutes Letter grades

The project assignment consist of an individual infographic on any topic relevant to the course. This infographic can be used for the oral exam, which is an elevator pitch. This oral exam is given in front of other students and examiners.It is possible to take both assessment parts again if they are not passed. This must be agreed upon with the course coordinator.

Coursework requirements

Compulsory attendance in at least 80% of the lectures
Compulsory attendance in at least 80% of the lectures.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Mark van der Giezen

Head of Department:

Ingunn Westvik Jolma

Method of work

Lectures and group discussions in class.

Open for

This course is open to all UiS Master's students who have an interest in a holistic understanding of this complex topic.

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital subject evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto