INNOVATION IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS

The unsustainability of food systems represents a grand challenge. Food – from production to consumption to waste – has a big impact both on the environment and on local communities. Therefore, ensuring the food systems transition toward sustainability appears essential and requires innovative managerial approaches to be realized.
Food systems simultaneously address multiple challenges and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, encompassing the need to reduce greenhouse emissions during production and avoid biodiversity loss; support sustainable consumption and healthy diets; reduce food waste and ensure food security, just to name a few. Accordingly, the course contributes to developing a system-thinking management approach – which currently represents an essential transversal skill underlying a sustainability mindset – pivotal in managing the sustainable transition.

Knowledge and understanding
- Ability to identify food system components and their interrelation as a system.
- Ability to identify main sustainable development challenges within food systems.
- Know the main international, European, and national policies supporting food system transformation.
- Understand dimensions increasing food system sustainability.

Applying knowledge and understanding
- Ability to analyze global and local food systems.
- Ability to identify and assess trade-offs between SDGs within food systems.
- Apply system-thinking tools to the analysis of food system issues.

Making judgements
- Ability to evaluate food systems configurations.
- Know how to formulate hypotheses and judgments on the effectiveness of different alternatives to enhance food systems’ sustainability.

No pre-requirements to attend the course.

- Local and global food systems
- Food system dimensions and their interrelation
- Challenges in food system sustainability and SDGs
- Policies and strategies supporting food system transformation toward sustainability
- Innovation and multi-stakeholder approaches

Academic papers, policy documents, and slides.

The assessment of learning will be carried out by written exam. The exam will consist of four open questions to be completed in one hour.

written

Regarding the grading scale (criteria for assigning grades):

A. Scores in the 18-22 range will be assigned in the presence of:
Sufficient knowledge and understanding of the course program;
Limited ability to apply knowledge and formulate independent judgments;
Sufficient ability to communicate using the appropriate technical language of the subject.
B. Scores in the 23-26 range will be assigned in the presence of:
Fair knowledge and understanding of the course program;
Fair ability to apply knowledge and formulate independent judgments;
Fair ability to communicate using the appropriate technical language of the subject.
C. Scores in the 27-30 range will be assigned in the presence of:
Good to excellent knowledge and understanding of the course program;
Good to excellent ability to apply knowledge and formulate independent judgments;
Good to excellent ability to communicate using the appropriate technical language of the subject.
D. Honors will be awarded in the presence of outstanding knowledge and applied understanding of the program, excellent judgment skills, and exceptional communication abilities.

The course is designed so that participation and discussion enable the learning process. Much of the course will be based on thorough discussions of readings and case-related materials. Case studies and guest speakers will provide a forum for students to apply the concepts and tools they will be exposed to, helping them to identify key issues and propose alternatives and/or recommendations.