ADMFSD: Food Security and Development

Module code: ADMFSD

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Alex Arnall, email: a.h.arnall@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Mondira Bhattacharya, email: m.bhattacharya@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Explore the complex, sometimes contentious, yet crucial relationship between food and global development. You will gain a broad but comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with producing, accessing and consuming food in different parts of the world.   

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Describe the scale and depth of food insecurity in different parts of the world, and why food security still eludes many people;  
2. Discuss the range of approaches to tackling the food security problem, and the institutional and political issues surrounding some of these;  
3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the multifaceted nature of food security, including its nutritional and cultural components. 

Module content

This module explores the complex relationship between food and global development. It looks at the challenges associated with accessing and utilising food in different parts of the world, as well as some of the contentious politics that have arisen as a result of these processes. It considers the successes of the Green Revolution in improving food security for millions of people around the world, but also those regions and populations that have been ‘left behind’. The module also examines some of the alternative frames to the ‘productionist’ approach to food and development, including those that emphasise the roles of nutrition, culture and socio-natures. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is delivered via lectures, group discussions, problem-solving and ‘brainstorming’ activities, and independent study. New concepts and ideas are supported by national and local-level case studies from developed and developing countries. Students will develop communication, writing and critical analysis skills through class participation and preparation of an essay and a practical writeup. 

Study hours

At least 44 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs