GEOG 3022 - Food Security

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2018

The course will examine the geographical components of food security globally in the historic, modern and post-modern eras. Case studies will be drawn from Australian and international contexts to examine humanity's changing relationship with the systems of production, supply, ecology, economy and society fundamental to the provision of and access to sufficient, nutritious food. The roles of food and agriculture in the context of historical societal development will also be discussed. The types of issues that will be introduced include: pre-modern or traditional agriculture; the origin and development of agricultural biodiversity; the relationship between food supply and cultural identity; the agrarian transition/Green revolution; modernisation and the creation of marginalisation; agriculture and environmental management; new technological developments and their application; famines; the political-ecologies of agriculture; the emerging alternative roles of agriculture to food production; and the future roles of alternative systems based on diversity and location. Students will be guided through the development of an in-depth critique of the historical processes relating to a food commodity, system or a region of their choice. The outcomes of these investigations will be presented in written form in a series of short reports and in oral form as a presentation to their peers. A final examination will allow students to present on their understanding of the course's major themes.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GEOG 3022
    Course Food Security
    Coordinating Unit Geography, Environment and Population
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites At least 6 units of Level II undergraduate study
    Incompatible GEOG 2146
    Course Description The course will examine the geographical components of food security globally in the historic, modern and post-modern eras. Case studies will be drawn from Australian and international contexts to examine humanity's changing relationship with the systems of production, supply, ecology, economy and society fundamental to the provision of and access to sufficient, nutritious food. The roles of food and agriculture in the context of historical societal development will also be discussed. The types of issues that will be introduced include: pre-modern or traditional agriculture; the origin and development of agricultural biodiversity; the relationship between food supply and cultural identity; the agrarian transition/Green revolution; modernisation and the creation of marginalisation; agriculture and environmental management; new technological developments and their application; famines; the political-ecologies of agriculture; the emerging alternative roles of agriculture to food production; and the future roles of alternative systems based on diversity and location. Students will be guided through the development of an in-depth critique of the historical processes relating to a food commodity, system or a region of their choice. The outcomes of these investigations will be presented in written form in a series of short reports and in oral form as a presentation to their peers. A final examination will allow students to present on their understanding of the course's major themes.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Douglas Bardsley

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. Understand food security and agricultural issues in Australia and internationally.
    2. Analyse the relationship between food and agricultural activities and society and the environment.
    3. Translate generic concepts and methods into reviews of contemporary, real-world food production, exchange and policy using a variety of methods of conceptualisation and critical analysis.
    4. Critically assess theoretical and conceptual issues relating to the emerging risks both to food and agricultural systems.
    5. Present synthesised and critically evaluated information in oral and written forms.
    6. Work effectively to create outputs of professional quality, both independently and within team environments.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1-6
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    2-5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    2-6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1-4, 6
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    2-6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There are no required resources for this course.
    Recommended Resources
    On-line recommended readings will be provided each week.
    Online Learning
    Online learning is facilitated through recording of lectures and online lecture slides. Announcements will be used regularly as will group emails, to inform students of what is happening. Many resources will be uploaded to MYUNI in folders and assignments will be submitted online. Students will be assisted to undertake academic reference sources online.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is based around the development of the students’ critical analysis skills. Content is provided in lectures and students learning will be scaffolded in workshops to ensure that they are learning the skills to enable them to critically evaluate and approach to agriculture or food security policy. The pedagogical approach is therefore constructivist but with guided discovery-based learning.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    WORKLOAD TOTAL HOURS
    2 X 1 hour lecture per week 24 hours per semester
    1 x 2-hour tutorial per fortnight 12 hours per semester
    6 hours report research and presentation preparation per week 72 hours per semester
    2 hours workshop preparation per week 24 hours per semester
    2 hours exam revision per week 24 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    WEEK LECTURE TOPIC WORKSHOP
    1 1. Introduction to the course
    2. The physical geography of agriculture
    1. Course introduction: framing the research report
    2 3. PUBLIC HOLIDAY
    4. A history of agriculture
    2. No workshop
    3 5. The Green Revolution
    6. Current Food Supply
    3. Discussing agricultural history
    4 7. Risk and global food supply
    8. Agroecological risks
    4. No workshop
    5 9. Risk and water
    10. Urbanisation
    5. Discussing future risk to food supplies
    6 11. SA Food & Agriculture
    12. Food security policy in Developing Countries
    6. No workshop
    7 13. Global Agriculture I
    14. Global Agriculture II
    7. Discussing food and agricultural politics
    8 15. Climate change and food security
    16. Agriculture, climate change adaptation & mitigation
    8. No workshop
    9 17. GMOs & agrobiodiversity
    18. Responding to risk with food policy
    9. Discussing innovative futures
    10 19. Diversity & European agriculture
    20. Future famine?
    10. No workshop
    11 21. A multifunctionality for SA agriculture?
    22. Urban Agriculture in Adelaide
    11. Report presentations
    12 23. Supporting change: research and knowledge
    24. Summary
    12. No workshop
    Specific Course Requirements
    There are no specific course requirements.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    The course is framed around guided research on a particular topic relevant to food security. The two hour workshop format enables students to break into groups each second week to discuss and critically evaluate their progression in that task. The findings are presented in both written and oral formats towards the end of the semester and involves discussion with their peers.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Course Learning Outcomes
    Workshop Attendance Formative 5% 1-6
    Report Outline Formative & summative 10% 1, 2, 5, 6
    History & Socio-ecological issues paper Formative & summative 20% 1-6
    Politics & opportunities paper Formative & summative 30% 1-6
    Oral presentation Summative 5% 3-6
    Exam Summative 30% 1-6
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students must attend the workshops.
    Assessment Detail
    Detail on assessments will be provided in class.
    Submission
    The assignments will be submitted electronically through MyUni.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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