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Unravelling solutions for Future Food problems

Approx. 15 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course explores the challenges of feeding the world's growing population and provides innovative solutions on how to do so sustainably.

Key Learning Points

Learn about the global food system and its impact on the environment and society
Discover cutting-edge technologies and approaches to food production and distribution
Explore the ethics and politics of food systems and the role of consumers in creating change

Learning Outcomes

Understand the challenges of feeding a growing population sustainably
Identify cutting-edge technologies and approaches to food production and distribution
Analyze the ethics and politics of food systems and the role of consumers in creating change

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic knowledge of food systems and agriculture
Interest in sustainable solutions to global issues

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Self-paced
Online
Video lectures
Quizzes
Assignments

Similar Courses

Sustainable Agriculture: Food Production and Ethics
Agriculture, Economics and Nature
Food as Medicine

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Michael Pollan
Marion Nestle
Danielle Nierenberg

Related Books

Description

Our society depends on the availability of food and accessibility to it. According to the United Nations nearly 800 million people are hungry and on the other hand, over 650 million people are obese. While many people in developing countries experience food shortage, in industrialized countries people are throwing food away.

These facts show how paradoxical and complex the world’s food problem is. ln this course, more than 10 food researchers from Utrecht University will address the main issues of food consumption. They will handle two interrelated themes; Food shortage and Healthy choices. You will learn to identify the key ingredients of the world’s food challenges and to think about the solutions for enabling changes in the current food system. We will also look at the possible sustainable solutions for several accut issues: the demands of the growing human population, the role of nutrition, and the need to understand food choices in order to have healthier diet and consider the possibilities of alternative foods. We invite you to join us on an interdisciplinary journey through the world food problems. You will gain new knowledge and insights that will help you form your own opinion on these subjects and make better choices in your food consumption. We hope you will enjoy the course! The Future Food Team

Outline

Introduction Future Food & Food Shortage Part I
Welcome to this course!
Introducing the theme - Food Shortage
Production limiting factors
Vulnerability to famines
Welcome to the course!
Food shortage or distribution problem?
Shortage and production in context

Food Shortage Part II: Sustainable solutions
The role of genetics in dealing with the environment
Control of disease and spoilage in plants
Disease control in animals: Animal health
Learning from nature
Accepting alternative foods
Closure theme - Food shortage
Plant production in context
Animal welfare

Healthy Choices Part I: Food & Health
Introducing the theme - Healthy choices
Functionality of foods and dietary patterns
Early life nutrition
Interface gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and microbiotica
Food allergy
Obesity
Mother milk vs infant formula
Gastrointestinal development and function
Food allergy
Interesting topic?
What is nutrition?
Microbiomes in plants
GIT development and function

Healthy Choices Part II: Food-related behavior and interventions
Introducing food related behavior
Psychological determinants of (un)healthy eating
Economic/environmental determinants of (un)healthy eating
Interventions aimed at individuals (Voedingscentrum)
Interventions aimed at individuals
Interventions aimed at the environment
Political/economical interventions
Interventions aimed at the environment
Closure theme - Healthy choices
Recap theme - Healthy choices

An interdisciplinary approach to food
Closure
Final survey

Summary of User Reviews

Many users have found the Solutions for the Future Food Problem course to be extremely valuable. They appreciate the course's emphasis on practical solutions to global food issues, as well as the engaging lectures and interactive assignments. One key aspect that many users thought was good is the focus on sustainability and the use of cutting-edge technologies to address food scarcity and environmental challenges.

Pros from User Reviews

Emphasis on practical solutions to global food issues
Engaging lectures
Interactive assignments
Focus on sustainability
Use of cutting-edge technologies

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course content to be too basic
Course material can be repetitive at times
Limited interaction with course instructors
Some users found the course to be too focused on Western perspectives
Course materials are not always up-to-date

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