NIFK16004U CANCELLED: Organic and Regional Food Systems
MSc Programme in Agriculture
This course comprises three core elements.
1) Lectures and theoretical exercises will introduce the organic and origin food sector as alternative food systems. The theoretical focus will be on development theory, ecological economics and food systems, serving as conceptual framework for analyzing and understanding observed developments in the two sectors. Lectures will provide an overview of the evolution of organic and traditional origin food production in an international context; consumer preferences, markets and distribution systems for organic and ´terroir´ products.
2) Two excursions to organic/origin food enterprises, offering an option to discuss theoretical aspects from the lectures in a real life context. We will visit one enterprise within the organic food system and one from the origin (terroir labelled) food system.
3) A problem oriented group project investigating a specific theoretical aspect of alternative food systems.
The aim of the course is to give students with an
agriculture-, food- or global development oriented background
an overview of important conceptual and theoretical aspects
relevant for the analysis of food systems with a special focus on
organic and origin labelled food systems.
After completing the course the student should be able to:
Knowledge:
- Show overview of important concepts related to alternative food
systems, including theoretical understanding of correlations
between ecological economics and organic production and
protected geographical indications (PGI/PDO), as part of the
international trade- and intellectual property rights regime.
- Give an account of the development and present structure of the
organic and origin food systems, as well as challenges in a
global context with regard to consumer - producer ownership of
certification rules/schemes and access to markets.
- Identify key actors, institutional environment and structures
of importance for the organic and origin labelled food system,
including participation in compliance criteria setting and
controls.
Skills:
- Apply ecological economics and food systems theory
as conceptual frameworks for analyzing global production,
distribution and consumption of food.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the defining aspects and principles of organic and origin labelled food production, with reference to national, EU and international agencies and rules.
- Explain key issues related to the analysis of food systems,
including levels of environmental and
socio-economic sustainability, consumer trust, producer risk,
and animal welfare.
Competencies:
- Reflect on organic and origin food production systems and their
economic and social roles in national, regional
and international contexts.
- Apply the analytical framework and concepts studied, on
alternative food system related problems at different levels
(from local to international) and from different perspectives
(economic, environmental, institutional rules).
The most important written course materials will be articles from international social science journals in the fields of development studies, ecological economics, sustainable agriculture, rural development and other journals publishing analyses of developments in the organic and traditional or´terroir´ based food systems.
- Category
- Hours
- Exam
- 1
- Excursions
- 8
- Guidance
- 10
- Lectures
- 31
- Preparation
- 50
- Project work
- 100
- Theory exercises
- 6
- Total
- 206
As
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Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 20 min.No time for preparation.
Formative feedback will be provided after the exam in the form of written comments to each group report uploaded to Absalon by censor/examinator. - Exam registration requirements
Submitted report from group project.
- Aid
- Only certain aids allowed
The examinee may bring notes and report.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
More than one internal examinator.
- Re-exam
Same as ordinary exam.
If the student has not handed in the project report, then an individual project report must be handed in two weeks prior to the re-exam. It must be approved before the exam.
Criteria for exam assesment
The mark 12 will be achieved by students fulfilling all aspects as described in the learning outcomes.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NIFK16004U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 3
- Schedule
- A
- Course capacity
- 30
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Food and Resource Economics
Course Coordinators
- fzn859 fzn859 (2-6b68436c697572316e7831676e)
- Jesper Lassen (4-6f716678456e6b777433707a336970)