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Anna Ball
and
Katie Duitsman
Throughout this course, you will delve into the intricate details of the food production system through a system-thinking lens. You will examine the grand challenges faced by the food, fiber, and natural resource industries, and their repercussions on people, the planet, and profit. By the end of this course, you will have a clear understanding of the concept of systems thinking, be able to explain the three key pillars of sustainability and link these pillars to social, environmental, and economic systems.
Read more
Throughout this course, you will delve into the intricate details of the food production system through a system-thinking lens. You will examine the grand challenges faced by the food, fiber, and natural resource industries, and their repercussions on people, the planet, and profit. By the end of this course, you will have a clear understanding of the concept of systems thinking, be able to explain the three key pillars of sustainability and link these pillars to social, environmental, and economic systems.
Read more
Throughout this course, you will delve into the intricate details of the food production system through a system-thinking lens. You will examine the grand challenges faced by the food, fiber, and natural resource industries, and their repercussions on people, the planet, and profit. By the end of this course, you will have a clear understanding of the concept of systems thinking, be able to explain the three key pillars of sustainability and link these pillars to social, environmental, and economic systems.
This course is part of the College of ACES suite of online programs. To learn more about online programs from the College of ACES and explore ways to apply your Coursera work toward a degree program at the University of Illinois, visit: https://aces.illinois.edu/online.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/xk8j07/sustainable
What's inside
Syllabus
MODULE 1 | Food System as a System
In this module, learners will explore the complexities of the food system, examine the ways systems thinking influences our world, and examine some of the grand challenges and emerging issues in the food, economic, environmental, and energy systems.
Read more
Syllabus
MODULE 1 | Food System as a System
In this module, learners will explore the complexities of the food system, examine the ways systems thinking influences our world, and examine some of the grand challenges and emerging issues in the food, economic, environmental, and energy systems.
Read more
MODULE 2 | Sustainability in the Food System
In this module, learners will investigate the three pillars of sustainability and their relationship to the food system, explore major challenges and emerging issues, and examine the ultimate goal of derisking the future.
MODULE 3 | Food Production Systems
In this module, learners will define and explore the types of food production systems, examine the production and processing systems in the food systems, and investigate the roles of consumers and producers.
MODULE 4 | Food and Nutrition
In this module, learners will investigate issues related to world hunger, access to nutritious food, food deserts. Learners will also explore the emotional and cultural connections to food.
MODULE 5 | Food and the Environment
In this module, learners will explore environmental grand challenges and investigate issues related to water and soil quality.
MODULE 6 | Economics of the Food System
In this module, learners will examine issues in land access and food production demands, explore potential uses of non-productive land, and investigate the influence of a consumer-driven economy.
MODULE 7 | Energy and Technology in the Food System
In this module, learners will explore grand challenges in energy and technology within the food system, examine the roles of switchgrass and carbon in our environment, and investigate issues in energy and technology.
MODULE 8 | Examining Grand Challenges; Moving Toward Solutions
In this module, learners will examine the complexities of and decisions associated with food, food production systems, and sustainability. Learners will explore specific ways he/she/they can contribute toward solutions for grand challenges in sustainability and sustainable food systems.
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Explores the food production system through a systems-thinking lens, which is standard in industry
Taught by Anna Ball and Katie Duitsman, who are recognized for their work in sustainability
Examines the grand challenges faced by the food, fiber, and natural resource industries, which is highly relevant to sustainability
Covers food production systems, food and nutrition, food and the environment, economics of the food system, and energy and technology in the food system, which are core skills for sustainability
Save this course
Save Sustainable Food Systems to your list so you can find it easily later:
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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 Food Systems with these
activities:
Retrace your prior learning in Systems Thinking
Show steps
Recall basic fundamentals of Systems Thinking to refresh your mind and strengthen the foundation for the concepts to be covered throughout the course.
Browse courses on
Systems Thinking
Show steps
-
Review the key concepts, principles and methodologies of Systems Thinking
-
Complete practice exercises or case studies to apply Systems Thinking in practice
Develop a mind map of complex food system
Show steps
Synthesize your understanding of the complex interconnections within the food system by creating a visual representation that highlights key components and their relationships.
Show steps
-
Start by identifying the main components of the food system
-
Map out the connections between these components
-
Use different colors or symbols to represent different aspects of the system
-
Analyze the map to identify potential areas for intervention or improvement
Show all two activities
Retrace your prior learning in Systems Thinking
Show steps
Recall basic fundamentals of Systems Thinking to refresh your mind and strengthen the foundation for the concepts to be covered throughout the course.
Browse courses on
Systems Thinking
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Review the key concepts, principles and methodologies of Systems Thinking
- Complete practice exercises or case studies to apply Systems Thinking in practice
Develop a mind map of complex food system
Show steps
Synthesize your understanding of the complex interconnections within the food system by creating a visual representation that highlights key components and their relationships.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Start by identifying the main components of the food system
- Map out the connections between these components
- Use different colors or symbols to represent different aspects of the system
- Analyze the map to identify potential areas for intervention or improvement
Show all two activities
Career center
Learners who complete Sustainable Food Systems will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Sustainability Director
Sustainability Director
Sustainability Directors are responsible for developing and implementing sustainability strategies for organizations. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as it can help build a foundation for understanding the role of sustainability in creating a more sustainable food system.
Sustainability Analyst
Sustainability Analyst
Sustainability Analysts assess the environmental and social performance of organizations. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as it can help build a foundation for understanding the role of sustainability in creating a more sustainable food system.
Dietitian
Dietitian
Dietitians help people make informed choices about food and nutrition. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as it can help build a foundation for understanding the role of nutrition in creating a more sustainable food system.
Food Processing Engineer
Food Processing Engineer
Food Processing Engineers design and operate the machinery and equipment used to process food. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as it can help build a foundation for understanding the role of food processing in creating a more sustainable food system.
Food Scientist
Food Scientist
Food Scientists are responsible for developing and testing new foods and ingredients, as well as improving the safety and quality of existing food products. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as it can help build a foundation for understanding the role of food science in creating a more sustainable food system.
Agricultural Economist
Agricultural Economist
Agricultural Economists apply economic principles to the agricultural sector. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as it can help build a foundation for understanding the economic implications of creating a more sustainable food system.
Food Safety Manager
Food Safety Manager
Food Safety Managers are responsible for developing and implementing food safety programs. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as it can help build a foundation for understanding the role of food safety in creating a more sustainable food system.
Agricultural Policy Analyst
Agricultural Policy Analyst
Agricultural Policy Analysts develop and analyze policies that affect the agricultural sector. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as it can help build a foundation for understanding the role of policy in creating a more sustainable food system.
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Engineers design and implement solutions to environmental problems. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as it can help build a foundation for understanding the role of engineering in creating a more sustainable food system.
Environmental Health Scientist
Environmental Health Scientist
Environmental Health Scientists conduct research to understand the impact of environmental factors on human health. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as it can help build a foundation for understanding the role of environmental health in creating a more sustainable food system.
Environmental Lawyer
Environmental Lawyer
Environmental Lawyers specialize in the laws and regulations that protect the environment. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as it can help build a foundation for understanding the role of law in creating a more sustainable food system.
Environmental Consultant
Environmental Consultant
Environmental Consultants are responsible for helping various organizations devise practical strategies and solutions for addressing environmental concerns. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful for those consultants who advise food processors, manufacturers, and retailers.
Sustainability Manager
Sustainability Manager
Sustainability Managers must understand the many ways a business interacts with the environment to develop strategies that reduce negative impacts. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as many businesses deal in food production or processing.
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Scientists perform tasks that range from data collection to analysis to the eventual creation of reports and documentation. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as many environmental science roles deal with food production or processing.
Sustainability Specialist
Sustainability Specialist
Sustainability Specialists are tasked with overseeing how a company can make decisions that better respect the environment. A course in sustainable food systems may be useful, as there are many ways that food processing and production can impact the environment.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/xk8j07/sustainable
Reading list
We've selected seven 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 Food Systems.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of food systems, from production to consumption. It covers topics such as the history of food systems, the role of technology in food production, and the challenges facing food systems in the 21st century.
Save
Provides a critical look at the current food system and argues that it is unsustainable. It covers topics such as the environmental impact of food production, the rise of industrial agriculture, and the decline of small-scale farming.
Provides a collection of essays on the ethical issues surrounding food. It covers topics such as the ethics of meat eating, the ethics of food production, and the ethics of food distribution.
Provides a global perspective on the food system. It covers topics such as the role of the global food market, the impact of climate change on food production, and the challenges of food security in developing countries.
Provides a sociological perspective on food. It covers topics such as the role of food in social interactions, the social construction of food, and the cultural significance of food.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the environmental impact of food. It covers topics such as the greenhouse gas emissions from food production, the water footprint of food, and the land use impacts of food production.
Provides a practical and case study approach to food safety. It covers topics such as the different types of food hazards, the methods of food preservation, and the management of food safety.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/xk8j07/sustainable
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Effort
8 weeks, 1-2 hours per week, 9 quizzes
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Instructors
Anna Ball
Katie Duitsman
Language
English
Good to know
Explores the food production system through a systems-thinking lens, which is standard in industry
Taught by Anna Ball and Katie Duitsman, who are recognized for their work in sustainability
Examines the grand challenges faced by the food, fiber, and natural resource industries, which is highly relevant to sustainability
Covers food production systems, food and nutrition, food and the environment, economics of the food system, and energy and technology in the food system, which are core skills for sustainability
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