Food For a Healthy Planet II

Subject UNIB20014 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 2 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 22 hours of lectures, 8 hours of tutorials, and 6 hours of forums.
Total Time Commitment:

96 hours
Prerequisites:

N/A
Corequisites: N/A
Recommended Background Knowledge: At least 50 points of prior university education in any field.
Non Allowed Subjects: N/A
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Prof Mohan Singh

Contact

Melbourne School of Land & Environment Student Centre
Ground Floor, Land & Food Resources (building 142)

Enquiries
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352)
Email: 13MELB@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject will use a variety of delivery tools including in-class lecture, case analysis, problems, invited expert seminars etc. This will include modules on science, health, economics, politics & law, social issues relating to food and food security. The primary aim in this year is to engage the students in broad range of issues associated with food and food future. In this course the students would become familiar with the key literature in the area, and the roles of key food regulatory organizations.

The topics to be covered include:

  • Designer foods such as probiotics and functional foods
  • Global food security and famine
  • Food production systems & multi food supply chain
  • Economics of food
  • Adverse reactions to food, food and immune system, food allergy & food safety
  • Organic foods & genetic modification and GM food labelling
  • Food laws & politics of food
  • Health issues – the obesity epidemic, salts, fats and sugars
Objectives:

At the completion of this subject, students will be better able to:

  • Analyse the nutritional benefits of a range of foods;
  • Incorporate consideration of global food politics, security and sustainability in applying expertise in other knowledge domains;
  • Critically evaluate use of biotechnology in production, safety and quality of food for a healthy planet.
Assessment:
  • An essay (2000 words), worth 20%, due week 8.
  • A mid-semester test (1 hour), approximately at end of week 6, worth 20%.
  • Final exam (2 hours) exam in the examination period (60%).
Prescribed Texts: A reading pack will be produced and made available as hard copy or through the LMS online.
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:
  • The ability to develop interdisciplinary knowledge and across broad discipline areas
  • The ability to examine and evaluate critically information from a variety of sources and assess its quality and relevance to issues under discussion.
  • The ability to write a logically argued and well researched essay
  • The ability to develop as a well-informed citizen better able to contribute to their community
Related Breadth Track(s): Wine and Food
Feeding the World's Population

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