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Sustainable Global Food Systems

4.5 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Empty star
Based on 25 ratings
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Dr. Fiona Borthwick, Dr. Jonathan Hillier, and Dr. Elaine Bannerman

We are currently facing one of the biggest challenges worldwide: how to feed a growing population without exhausting global resources.

This course examines food security from a food systems perspective and illustrates the major global challenges present, from the environmental impact of food production to the public health impacts of current and future diets. We look at where food systems and non-food policies interact, such as climate change and biodiversity conservation.

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We are currently facing one of the biggest challenges worldwide: how to feed a growing population without exhausting global resources.

This course examines food security from a food systems perspective and illustrates the major global challenges present, from the environmental impact of food production to the public health impacts of current and future diets. We look at where food systems and non-food policies interact, such as climate change and biodiversity conservation.

You will be introduced to some of the tools used to collect information about these issues, such as the use of big data, modelling and behaviour change models. Finally, you will learn some of the interventions used across food systems to address these global challenges, from sustainable agriculture measures and sustainable certification to dietary guidelines and behaviour change.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • On completion of this course, you will:
  • Be able to identify the key elements of the global food system (stages, actors etc.)
  • Understand the key global challenges relating to food systems
  • Understand how tools such as certification, modelling, and the use of big data help to understand these problems
  • Be able to identify methods and interventions to address some of these issues and transform global food systems

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to Food Systems
What are they? How do they function? What are the global challenges associated with food systems? How do you as an individual interact with these systems and challenges?
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops a foundation in global food systems, which is foundational for careers in food security, climate change, agriculture, nutrition, and related fields
Taught by a team of experts from The University of Edinburgh, who are highly respected for their work in global food systems
Covers key challenges in global food systems, including sustainable agriculture, sustainable certification, dietary guidelines, and behavior change
Emphasizes the use of tools such as big data, modelling, and certification, which are widely used in global food systems research and practice
Multi-modal and includes a mix of videos, readings, discussions, and other materials
Requires no prerequisites or specific background knowledge, making it accessible to learners from a wide range of backgrounds

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Reviews summary

Sustainable global food systems: comprehensive insights

According to students, this course offers a comprehensive and highly relevant overview of global food systems, connecting complex theories to practical applications. Learners appreciate the passionate instructors and well-structured lectures that make topics like sustainable agriculture and supply chain management accessible. While many found the coverage of tools like big data and behavior change models particularly insightful, a few mentioned the pace could be uneven or desired more in-depth case studies for advanced application, suggesting it provides a strong foundation but might leave some practitioners seeking deeper tactical guidance.
Highlights methods like big data, modeling, and behavior change strategies.
"I especially appreciated the module on behavior change models."
"The use of big data and modeling tools was explained clearly..."
"I gained valuable perspectives on policy and intervention strategies."
Instructors are passionate, and the course materials are well-presented.
"The instructor's passion for the subject really shone through."
"The lectures were well-structured and easy to follow."
"The use of big data and modeling tools was explained clearly, making it accessible even for those new to the concepts."
Offers a strong theoretical understanding complemented by practical applications.
"I particularly enjoyed how the lectures connected theory with practical examples."
"While the course was largely theoretical, it did provide valuable perspectives on policy and intervention strategies."
"I hoped for more concrete strategies and hands-on tools, but it was mostly theoretical."
Provides a comprehensive and current overview of global food systems.
"Fantastic course! The content was incredibly comprehensive and relevant to current global challenges."
"Highly impactful and relevant. The course dives deep into how food systems interact with climate change and biodiversity."
"Good overview, covered a lot of ground. I appreciated the modules on food consumption challenges and future interventions."
Some modules are dense, while others might lack depth for advanced learners.
"Some parts felt a bit high-level, and I would have loved more in-depth case studies or data analysis exercises."
"The pace was sometimes uneven. Some weeks were very dense, others felt rushed."
"Some of the early material felt a little basic for me, but it picked up later."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Sustainable Global Food Systems with these activities:
Develop a Visual Representation of Food Systems
Create a visual representation of global food systems to enhance your understanding of their complexity and the interconnections between different stages and actors.
Browse courses on Food Systems
Show steps
  • Brainstorm ideas for representing the main components and relationships within food systems.
  • Choose a visual format (e.g., infographic, diagram, flowchart) and create a draft.
  • Refine your representation based on feedback from peers or the instructor.
Review college algebra
Brush up on your understanding of algebraic concepts and equations to ensure you have a solid foundation for this course.
Show steps
  • Review notes and textbooks from previous algebra courses.
  • Take practice problems and quizzes to test your understanding.
  • Seek help from a tutor or online resources if needed.
Review food systems basics
Get a solid grasp on the basics of food systems to better understand their complexities and associated challenges
Browse courses on Food Systems
Show steps
  • Read articles and watch videos on food systems
  • Discuss food systems with classmates or colleagues
  • Attend a seminar or workshop on food systems
12 other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 15 activities
Form a study group for the course
Enhance your learning by collaborating with classmates, discussing course topics, and challenging each other's perspectives
Show steps
  • Identify interested classmates
  • Establish a meeting schedule
  • Prepare for each meeting
  • Meet regularly and discuss course topics
Develop understanding of agricultural production challenges
Develop a deeper understanding of the challenges associated with global food production, such as environmental impacts and barriers to sustainable agriculture.
Browse courses on Agricultural Production
Show steps
  • Review the online resources provided in the course module on Food Production Challenges.
  • Complete the interactive simulations and exercises on agricultural production challenges.
  • Summarize the key findings and challenges in a short report.
Participate in discussion forums
Engage with fellow learners to exchange ideas, ask questions, and deepen your understanding of course concepts.
Show steps
  • Actively participate in online discussion forums.
  • Ask thoughtful questions to clarify concepts.
  • Share your insights and perspectives with others.
Read 'The End of Food' by Paul Roberts
Get inspired and delve deep into the pressing global food system challenges through Roberts' expert analysis and insights
View The Impulse Society on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book 'The End of Food'
  • Write a summary of the main arguments
  • Discuss the book with classmates or colleagues
Explore data visualization tools
Gain hands-on experience with data visualization tools to enhance your understanding and ability to present data effectively.
Browse courses on Data Visualization
Show steps
  • Identify and select data visualization tools relevant to the course.
  • Follow online tutorials and documentation to learn the basics of the tools.
  • Experiment with different data sets and visualizations to explore their capabilities.
Volunteer at a local food bank
Gain practical experience and develop empathy by volunteering at a food bank, witnessing firsthand the challenges and opportunities in the food system
Show steps
  • Contact a local food bank
  • Inquire about volunteer opportunities
  • Attend volunteer training
  • Volunteer at the food bank
Explore Dietary Guidelines and Sustainable Diets
Gain insights into the role of dietary guidelines and sustainable diets in addressing global food consumption challenges.
Browse courses on Dietary Guidelines
Show steps
  • Explore different dietary guidelines and their recommendations for healthy eating.
  • Research the environmental and health impacts of various dietary choices.
  • Create a personalized meal plan that aligns with sustainable dietary practices.
Analyze dietary data using regression models
Practice applying regression models to dietary data, enhancing your skills in interpreting and analyzing food consumption patterns
Browse courses on Regression Analysis
Show steps
  • Learn the basics of regression analysis
  • Collect and preprocess dietary data
  • Develop and fit regression models to the data
  • Interpret and communicate the results
Attend a workshop on food systems modeling
Enhance your understanding of the complexities of food systems and learn to use modeling tools to analyze and predict their behavior
Show steps
  • Research food systems modeling workshops
  • Select a workshop and register
  • Attend the workshop
Develop a food system analysis report
Apply your knowledge of food system challenges to a real-world scenario by conducting an analysis and presenting your findings.
Browse courses on Food Production
Show steps
  • Select a specific food system or issue to focus on.
  • Gather and analyze data from relevant sources.
  • Identify key challenges and potential solutions.
  • Write a comprehensive report summarizing your findings and recommendations.
Design an Intervention to Address Food Security
Apply your understanding of food systems to design and propose an intervention aimed at addressing global food security challenges.
Browse courses on Sustainable Agriculture
Show steps
  • Identify a specific food security challenge you want to address.
  • Research and explore existing interventions and best practices.
  • Develop a proposal outlining your intervention, its objectives, and potential impact.
  • Present your proposal to peers or the instructor for feedback and discussion.
Develop a plan for a food systems intervention
Apply your knowledge to a real-world problem by developing a plan for a food systems intervention, putting your ideas into action
Browse courses on Food Policy
Show steps
  • Identify a food systems challenge
  • Research existing interventions
  • Develop a plan for your intervention
  • Write a report on your plan

Career center

Learners who complete Sustainable Global Food Systems will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Food Policy Analyst
Food Policy Analysts help develop and implement policies and programs to improve the food system. They research and analyze data on food production, consumption, and nutrition to identify problems and develop solutions. This course may be useful to you because it covers the key global challenges relating to food systems, including environmental impact, public health impacts of current and future diets, and how food systems interact with non-food policies like climate change and biodiversity conservation.
See salaries and explore the career path for Food Policy Analyst
Sustainable Food Systems Scientist
Sustainable Food Systems Scientists research and develop innovative solutions to improve the sustainability of food systems across the whole food system (production, transport, processing, retail, consumption). Understanding how global food systems impact the environment is critical to informing your research and developing solutions. This course may be useful to you as it covers the major global challenges presented by food systems, from the environmental impact of food production to the public health impacts of current and future diets.
See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainable Food Systems Scientist
Food Safety Inspector
Food Safety Inspectors work to ensure that food is safe for consumers by inspecting food production and processing facilities, collecting samples, and testing food for contaminants. They must understand the potential hazards associated with food production and how to prevent contamination. This course may be useful to you as it covers the challenges of food production and consumption, including food safety and public health impacts of diets.
See salaries and explore the career path for Food Safety Inspector
Food and Beverage Manager
Food and Beverage Managers oversee the operation of food and beverage establishments, including restaurants, hotels, and catering companies. They are responsible for ensuring that food is prepared and served safely and efficiently, and that customers have a positive dining experience. This course may be useful to you as it covers the challenges of food production and consumption, including food safety, sustainability, and public health impacts of diets.
See salaries and explore the career path for Food and Beverage Manager
Restaurant Consultant
Restaurant Consultants help restaurants improve their operations and profitability. They may specialize in a particular area, such as menu planning, kitchen design, or marketing. Understanding the challenges of food systems and how to address them is critical to helping restaurants succeed. This course may be useful to you as it covers the key global challenges relating to food systems, including environmental impact, public health impacts of current and future diets, and how food systems interact with non-food policies.
See salaries and explore the career path for Restaurant Consultant
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Engineers design and implement solutions to protect the environment from pollution. They may specialize in a particular area, such as air pollution, water pollution, or waste management. This course may be useful to you as it covers the environmental impact of food production and consumption. You'll explore how current food systems generate emissions, waste, or other pollutants and how to measure these impacts.
See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Engineer
Agricultural Scientist
Agricultural Scientists conduct research to improve agricultural practices and increase food production. They may specialize in a particular area, such as crop science, animal science, or soil science. This course may be useful to you as it covers the challenges and solutions to agricultural production, including environmental impact, sustainable agriculture measures, and dietary guidelines.
See salaries and explore the career path for Agricultural Scientist
Dietitian
Dietitians help people improve their health through nutrition. They assess patients' nutritional needs, develop meal plans, and provide nutrition education. This course may be useful to you as it covers the challenges and solutions to food consumption, including public health impacts and dietary guidelines.
See salaries and explore the career path for Dietitian
Epidemiologist
Epidemiologists investigate the causes of disease and injury. They design and conduct studies to identify risk factors and develop prevention strategies. This course may be useful to you as it covers the public health impacts of food systems and diets.
See salaries and explore the career path for Epidemiologist
Nutritionist
Nutritionists conduct research on the relationship between diet and health. They may also develop and implement nutrition programs for individuals and communities. This course may be useful to you as it covers the challenges and solutions to food consumption, including public health impacts and dietary guidelines.
See salaries and explore the career path for Nutritionist
Public Health Nutritionist
Public Health Nutritionists promote healthy eating and nutrition at the population level. They develop and implement programs to improve food access, nutrition education, and physical activity. This course may be useful to you as it covers the challenges and solutions to food consumption, including public health impacts and dietary guidelines.
See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Nutritionist
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. They may specialize in a particular area, such as web development, mobile development, or data science. This course may be useful to you as it covers the use of modeling to understand food systems and diets.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer
Environmental Health and Safety Specialist
Environmental Health and Safety Specialists design programs and manage processes to prevent accidents and protect employee health. They must have an understanding of government environmental and safety regulations and industry best practices. This course may be useful to you as it covers the environmental impacts of food production and consumption. You'll explore ways food systems impact the environment and how to measure these impacts with tools like modeling and big data.
See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Health and Safety Specialist
Data Scientist
Data Scientists collect, analyze, and interpret data to solve business problems. They may specialize in a particular area, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, or data visualization. This course may be useful to you as it covers the use of big data to understand food systems and diets.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist
Sustainability Consultant
Sustainability Consultants provide guidance on how businesses can minimize their environmental impact. Those in this role need expertise on how current processes generate emissions, waste, or other pollutants. They analyze and present data to justify and advocate for solutions. This course may be useful to you as it explores the impact (especially on the environment) of global food systems including production, consumption, trade, and supply chain management.
See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Consultant

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Sustainable Global Food Systems.
Cover image
The Land Grabbers
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing the global food system, from climate change and environmental degradation to poverty and inequality.
The Land Grabbers
Paperback
Check
The Land Grabbers
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Food Politics
Save
Provides a detailed overview of the challenges and opportunities for building more sustainable food systems.
Food Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know®
Paperback
$$
Food Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know®
Paperback
$$
Food Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know?
Kindle Edition
$$
Food Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know?
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
Wild Souls
Save
Explores the latest trends and innovations in the food industry and what they mean for the future of food.
Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non...
Hardcover
$$
Wild Souls: What We Owe Animals in a Changing World
Paperback
$$
Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non...
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
The Vertical Farm (Tenth Anniversary Edition)
Save
Explores the concept of vertical farming and its potential to address the challenges of food security and sustainability.
The Vertical Farm (Tenth Anniversary Edition)
Paperback
Check
The Vertical Farm (Tenth Anniversary Edition)
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
The Impulse Society
Save
Provides a detailed overview of the challenges facing the global food system and argues that we need to make radical changes to how we produce and consume food.
The Impulse Society
Paperback
Check
The Impulse Society
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
The Food Revolution
Save
Offers a comprehensive overview of the environmental and social impacts of food production and consumption and provides a guide to eating a more sustainable diet.
The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Save Your...
Paperback
$$
Voices of the Food Revolution: You Can Heal Your...
Paperback
$$
The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save...
Audible Audiobook
$$
No Happy Cows: Dispatches from the Frontlines of...
Paperback
$$
Cover image
Cooked
Save
Provides a detailed overview of the challenges facing the global food system and offers a guide to eating a more sustainable diet.
Cooked
Paperback
Check
Cooked
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
The Buddhist and the Ethicist
Save
Explores the ethical implications of our food choices and offers a guide to eating a more sustainable diet.
The Buddhist and the Ethicist: Conversations on...
Paperback
$$
The Buddhist and the Ethicist: Conversations on...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Slow Cooked
Save
Offers a comprehensive overview of the political and economic factors that shape our food system.
Slow Cooked
Paperback
Check
Slow Cooked
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
The Secret Life of Groceries
Save
Offers a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing the global food system and provides a guide to eating a more sustainable diet.
The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of...
Paperback
$$
The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of...
Kindle Edition
$

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Course image
Rating
4.5 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Empty star
Effort
3 to 5 hours per week for 5 weeks
Level
Introductory
Via
edX
Institution
The University of Edinburgh
Instructors
Dr. Fiona Borthwick
Dr. Jonathan Hillier
Dr. Elaine Bannerman
Language
English
Transcript
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops a foundation in global food systems, which is foundational for careers in food security, climate change, agriculture, nutrition, and related fields
Taught by a team of experts from The University of Edinburgh, who are highly respected for their work in global food systems
Covers key challenges in global food systems, including sustainable agriculture, sustainable certification, dietary guidelines, and behavior change
Emphasizes the use of tools such as big data, modelling, and certification, which are widely used in global food systems research and practice
Multi-modal and includes a mix of videos, readings, discussions, and other materials
Requires no prerequisites or specific background knowledge, making it accessible to learners from a wide range of backgrounds
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