agr1fcw food production
FOOD PRODUCTION IN A CHANGING WORLD
AGR1FCW
2017
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
This subject explores human food production, its current and future challenges from both Australian and global perspectives. Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of human food production and the key factors driving change in food production systems. Contemporary food production drivers, such as global population dynamics, advances in knowledge and technology, and globalisation of markets will be explored. Issues of change and sustainability in global food production systems will be explored and will consider concepts such as population growth, food security, climate change, agro-ecosystem resilience. The practical outcomes of these concepts will be explored in both local and global contexts.
SchoolSchool of Life Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorPenelope Smith
Available to Study Abroad StudentsNo
Subject year levelYear Level 1 - UG
Exchange StudentsNo
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites Admission into SBATE
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsN/A
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Learning resources
Readings
Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
---|---|---|---|---|
Readings | An obsolete dichotomy? Rethinking the rural-urban interface in terms of food security and production in the global south | Recommended | Lemer, A & Eakin, H 2011 | THE GEOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL, VOL. 177, NO. 4, PP. 311-320 |
Readings | Aquaculture and food crisis: opportunites and constraints | Recommended | Liao, I & Chao, N n.d. | ASIS PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION, VOL. 18, NO. 4, PP. 564 |
Readings | Aquaculture: Future fish | Recommended | Cressey, D 2009 | NATURE, VOL. 458, NO.7237, PP. 398-400 |
Readings | Beyond Industrial Agriculture? Some questions about Farm Sustainability. | Recommended | Woodhouse, P 2010 | JOURNAL OF AGRARIAN CHANGE, VOL. 10, NO. 3, PP. 437-453 |
Readings | Changes in farming and future prospects | Recommended | Buckwell, A & Armstrong-Brown, S 2004 | TECHNOLOGY AND POLICY, VOL. 146, PP. 14-21 |
Readings | Climate change and food security: health impacts in developed countries | Recommended | lake, I, Hooper, L & Waldron, K 2012 | ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES, VOL. 120, NO. 11, PP 1520-1526 |
Readings | Climate induced historic and future changes in viticulture | Recommended | Schultz, H & Jones, G 2010 | JOURNAL OF WINE RESEARCH, VOL. 21, NO. 2/3, PP. 137-145 |
Readings | Cross boundary farming: can this challenging farming method save the Australian family farm? | Recommended | Muenstermann, I 2009 | RURAL SOCIETY, VOL. 19, NO. 3, PP. 262-274 |
Readings | Developing potential adaptations to climate change for farming systems in Western Australia's Northern Agricultural Region using economic analysis tool STEP | Recommended | Abrahams, M, Reynolds, C, Gardiner, D 2012 | AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS AND FARMING SYSTEMS, VOL 9. NO. 1, PP. 9-28 |
Readings | Diversified Farming Systems: An Agroecological, Systems-based Alternative to Modern Industrial Agriculture | Recommended | Kremen, C Iles, A & Bacon, c 2012 | ECOLOGY & SOCIETY, VOL. 17, NO.4, PP. 288-306 |
Readings | Farming the sea | Recommended | Asche, F 2008 | MARINE RESOURCES ECONOMICS, VOL. 23, NO. 4 PP. 527-547 |
Readings | Global food supply: a challenge for sustainable agriculture | Recommended | Leaver, J 2011 | NUTRITION BULLETIN, VOL. 36, NO. 4, PP. 416-421 |
Readings | Not merely an advertisement: purity, trust and flour 1880-1930 | Recommended | Parcell, L & Lamme M, 2012 | AMERICAN JOURNALISM, VOL. 29, NO. 4, PP. 94-127 |
Readings | The role or marine aquaculture in meeting the future demand for animal protein | Recommended | Langan, R 2008 | JOURNAL OF FOOD SERVICE, VOL. 19, NO. 4, PP 227-233 |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Describe and explain the historical evolution of human food production, and the key factors driving change in food production systems
- Activities:
- Lectures, cases studies and readings will used in tutorials to explore the development of food production systems. Discussion regarding the evolution of sustainable and non-sustainable systems will occur in tutorials.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Ethical Awareness(Ethical Awareness)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
02. Research and discuss drivers of change in contemporary food production systems, including global population dynamics, advances in knowledge and technology, and globalisation of markets
- Activities:
- Case studies and group exercises will be used to explore how the current systems of food production work. Students will identify the parameters which determine the extent of production.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Ethical Awareness(Ethical Awareness)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
03. Investigate issues of change and sustainability in global food production systems, including population growth, food security, climate change and agroecosystem resilience
- Activities:
- Research exercises into the effects of climate change, soil erosion, population growth will be introduced in lectures and consolidated by group research exercises. Presentation of the group findings will be discussed by the class.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Ethical Awareness(Ethical Awareness)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)
04. Describe the Australian perspective in the face of changing global food production mechanisms
- Activities:
- Research into the Australian perspective of the effects of climate change, soil erosion and population growth will be introduced in lectures and consolidated by group research tasks. Presentation of the group findings will be discussed by the class.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Ethical Awareness(Ethical Awareness)
- Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
Subject options
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Epping, 2017, Semester 2, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorPenelope Smith
Class requirements
WorkShopWeek: 31 - 43
Two 2.0 hours workshop per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
---|---|---|---|
Assignment (Case study 1500 words) | 25 | 03 | |
Reflective journal detailing a "changing world" topic & presentation 1000 words + 10 minutes | 35 | 01, 02, 03, 04 | |
Tutorial Assessments (on line quizzes) | 25 | 01, 02, 03 | |
Workshop Assessment (2 x small presentations 5 minutes) | 15 | 04 |