Agri-Food Sys Econ Devel

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), agri-food systems can be instrumental not only in reducing poverty and hunger, but also in ensuring sustainable food and nutrition security; healthy populations and environment; efficient use of resources, and resilience to shocks and crises. The objective of this course is to introduce students to the concept of agri-food systems, their role in economic development, and why and how they should/ could be transformed to be sustainable, resilient, and inclusive in providing livelihoods and nutritious food for current and future generations. The course will focus on topics such as global trends in food demand and supply; the roles of organizations, institutions, policy and technology, and shocks and crises affecting/caused by agri-food systems (such as climate change and COVID-19), and will highlight national, regional and global level opportunities and challenges for LMICs to transform their agri-food systems. In addition to providing the theoretical framework and the latest literature on each topic, each session will also feature a guest lecturer/expert from the field, as well as a case study to make the topics and working thereon more relatable and accessible to those who may want to work in this field.