Political Economy of Food and Agriculture
| Module title | Political Economy of Food and Agriculture |
|---|---|
| Module code | POLM073 |
| Academic year | 2021/2 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Matt Lobley (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
Food and agriculture have become major issues in contemporary politics and economics and central concerns in discussions over sustainability. In this module you will look at the political economy of the global agri-food systems, including how food is produced, processed, transported, distributed, regulated and consumed. The main theoretical approaches to studying the political economy of food and sustainable agriculture are explored so as to provide you with the conceptual tools to develop critical awareness of the cultural, political and economic context of food.
Module aims - intentions of the module
Food and agriculture have become major issues in contemporary politics and economics and central concerns in discussions over sustainability. This module looks at the political economy of the global agri-food systems, including how food is produced, processed, transported, distributed, regulated and consumed. The main theoretical approaches to studying the political economy of food and sustainable agriculture are explored so as to provide students with the conceptual tools to develop critical awareness of the cultural, political and economic context of food. Specifically, the module aims to:
Examine the structure, economics and politics of the contemporary agro-food system.
Provide a critical examination of the emergence of ideas of food security and sustainable agriculture in policy discourses.
Consider the principles and processes that underlie policy-making and policy delivery for agro-food security and sustainability.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Understanding of the development of the agro-food system.
- 2. Awareness of core concepts in the study of the political economy of food, food consumption and the regulation of food.
- 3. Empirical knowledge of particular examples of sustainable food systems, including those associated with food security, the environment, health, safety and livelihoods.
- 4. Knowledge of the development of policy and planning agendas for encouraging sustainable agro-food systems
- 5. A comprehensive understanding of reciprocal relationships between theoretical and practical understandings of policy and sustainability
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Critically evaluate core concepts
- 7. Present coherent and well structured arguments informally in class and through assignments.
- 8. Find, use and analyse a range of material in their assignments
- 9. Apply theoretical arguments and concepts to the analysis of empirical case studies
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 10. Deliver presentations to peers
- 11. Communicate effectively in informal class discussions
- 12. Read with a critical eye and evaluate the ideas being expressed
- 13. Research & critically evaluate ideas and debates
- 14. Write clearly and coherently
- 15. Use ELE appropriately
Syllabus plan
1. An introduction to the historical development of agriculture and food systems.
2. Introduction to the political economy of agri-food systems and the historical development of the contemporary global agri-food system.
3. How the food chain works from farm to mouth; covering the role of marketing organizations, wholesalers, manufacturers, retailers.
4. Farming and food in the UK trends, pressures, issues, farming systems and their characteristics and distribution, alternative uses of land.
5. What we eat and why - food choices and diet, healthy eating, livestock versus crop sources of food.
6. Food security: the history of a policy concern; covering demographics, competing pressures on land, nutrition, and food safety.
7. Food security in its wider context the relationship of food security to geo-politics, and to biosecurity, water security and energy security.
8. Prospects for food security can the world feed itself, examining the debate in the context of contrasting economic models, peak oil and climate change; and alternative food systems (organic food, slow food, local food, food miles and fair trade).
9. Issues of Contention: regulating genetically modified food: defining food safety risks in the context of trade liberalisation.
10. The politics of food and international trade: trade liberalisation, the WTO, technology and entitlements.
The module will use formal lectures and discussion with external experts. Weekly two-hour contact hours introduce the theoretical framework, key issues and background knowledge as the basis for discussion well as a seminar element which allows students to present their thoughts on particular theories or issues. Students will be assigned readings on key module themes and will give presentations on assigned topics. Students will also develop their depth of knowledge of the module topics through researching and writing the course essays as well as through report writing. Study is continuous throughout the course
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 130 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 17 | Lectures, expert speakers and field visits |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 3 | Student-led seminars |
| Guided independent study | 130 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation in seminars | Weekly | 1-13 | Verbal feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | 0 | 10 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First essay | 40 | 2,000 words | 1-15 | Written feedback |
| Second essay | 40 | 2,000 words | 1-15 | Written feedback |
| Presentation | 10 | 15-20 minutes | 1-13 | Verbal and or written feedback |
| Presentation report | 10 | 1-2 pages | 1-15 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| First essay | Essay (2,000 words) | 1-15 | Next reassessment period |
| Second Essay | Essay (2,000 words) | 1-15 | Next reassessment period |
| Presentation | Presentation | 1-13 | Next reassessment period |
| Presentation report | Presentation report | 1-15 | Next reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Anderson, K (2010)The Political Economy of Agricultural Price Distortions (CUP Press)
Atkins, P and I. Bowler (2001). Food in Society: Economy, Culture, Geography.
Germov, J. and L. Williams (eds) (2004). A Sociology of Food and Nutrition.
Lang, T. and M. Heasman (2004). Food Wars: The global battle for mouths, minds and markets.
Lang, T, Barling, D. and Caraher, M. (2009) Food Policy: Integrating Health, Environment and Society (University Press: Oxford)
Maye D, Holloway L and Kneafsey, M (eds) , 2007. Alternative Food Geographies: Representation and Practice. London: Elsevier Online version available
Pretty, J. Ed. 2005: The Earthscan Reader in Sustainable Agriculture.
Tansey, G. and T. Worsley (1995). The Food System: A Guide.
Morgan, K., Marsden, T. and Murdoch, J. (2006) Worlds of Food: Place, Power and Provenance in the Food Chain, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Warde, A. (1997). Consumption Food and Taste: culinary antinomies and commodity culture.
Winter. M. and M. Lobley (eds) (2009) What is Land For? The food, farming and climate change debate.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/2010 |
| Last revision date | 26/11/2012 |
