FOOD PRODUCTION IN A CHANGING WORLD
AGR1FCW
2019
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.
School: School of Life Sciences
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Anthony Gendall
Available to Study Abroad Students: No
Subject year level: Year Level 1 - UG
Exchange Students: No
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: Admission into SBATE
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: N/A
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: N/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, including climate change, advances in technology and population dynamics.
- Activities:
- Lectures, tutorial, cases studies and readings will be used to explore the evolution and development of food production systems. Assessment will consist of problem-solving tasks and case study analysis
02. Investigate and discuss drivers of change in contemporary food production systems, including commercialization, globalisation of markets, food safety and food security.
- Activities:
- Lectures, tutorials, cases studies and readings will be used to explore how current systems of food production respond to commercialization and globalisation, Assessment will consist of problem-solving tasks, and case study analysis.
03. Investigate issues of change and sustainability in global food production systems, including environmental and social dimensions of sustainability.
- Activities:
- Lectures, tutorials, cases studies and readings will be used to explore issues of change and sustainability in global food production systems, including economic, environmental and social dimensions. Assessment will consist of problem-solving tasks, and case study analysis.
04. Describe the Australian perspective on assessing, modelling and managing food production systems in the face of changing global climate.
- Activities:
- Lectures, tutorials, cases studies and readings will be used to explore the Australian perspective of food production and climate change., Assessment will consist of problem-solving tasks, and case study analysis.
Epping, 2019, Semester 2, Blended
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Penelope Smith
Class requirements
WorkShopWeek: 31 - 43
Two 2.5 hours workshop per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
"Students can choose either the face-to-face or virtual (Online) class option."
Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
Two 2.0 hours unscheduled online class per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.
"Students complete online activities (pre-recorded lectures and other materials) prior to the scheduled workshop."
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evolution of human food assignment (1,100-words equivalent) | All assignments are a combination of problem solving tasks and case study analysis. This assignment is based on topics 1 to 3. It includes six short answer (100-word) problem solving tasks, and one long answer (500-word) case study analysis. | 25 | 01 |
| Change in contemporary food production assignment (1,100-words equivalent) | This assignment is based on topics 4 to 6. Six short answer (100-word) problem solving tasks, and one long answer (500-word) case study analysis. | 25 | 02 |
| Sustainability in global food production assignment (1,100-words equivalent) | This assignment is based on topics 7 to 9. Six short answer (100-word) problem solving tasks, and one long answer (500-word) case study analysis. | 25 | 03 |
| Australian food production systems assignment (1,100-words equivalent) | This assignment is based on topics 10 to 12. Six short answer (100-word) problem solving tasks, and one long answer (500-word) case study analysis. | 25 | 04 |