APMA508-Livestock, Livelihoods and Food Security - CPD

Module Provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Number of credits: 0 [0 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Andrew Ainslie
Email: a.m.ainslie@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This distance learning aims to enable students to evaluate the role that the main classes of farmed livestock (with a focus on dairy, beef, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry) play in the maintenance of livelihoods across a diverse, global range of livestock production systems. It also considers and assesses the opportunities and challenges of keeping livestock as a means of acquiring and maintaining food security at different levels (household, national, regional and global). Using a series of interactive, online sessions, online discussions and case studies, it examines the role of livestock in a range of settings at a household, national, regional and global level.

Aims:

To develop a deep understanding of the key opportunities and challenges associated with keeping livestock in terms of supporting livelihoods and contributing to food security at a household, national, regional and global level.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, students will be able to:

• critically evaluate the key opportunities and challenges in terms of supporting livelihoods associated with keeping livestock


• critically appraise the contribution livestock make in a range of different settings to the development of food security

Additional outcomes:

use appropriate tools to identify reliable information and literature on a given topic

Outline content:

Topics within this module will include:

• Introducing the Sustainable Livelihoods framework – Key Issues in the role of livestock in building and sustaining livelihoods


• Differentiating between food sovereignty and food security


• Key contributions of different livestock and livestock-cropping systems to food security at the
  
  
  
  • global level
  
  
  • regional level
  
  
  • national level
  
  
  • household level
  
  
  
  


• Case-studies of current topics in sustainable livestock production, livelihoods and food security – for example, innovations in the value chains of specific livestock systems, country-specific environmental impacts and controversies, climate change mitigation/adaptation strategies, dietary shifts and transitions, niches markets and economies of scale, the role of cultural preferences and ethical concerns, livestock and human health issues

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Each topic will be introduced with some interactive online material and downloadable materials that will be available to the student permanently.  There will be a series of online discussions and exercises.    

Summative assessment- Examinations:

There is no assessment on this module.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

There is no assessment on this module.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

There is no assessment on this module.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

There is no assessment on this module.

Reassessment arrangements:

There is no assessment on this module.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 30 March 2023