University of Reading
University of Reading
Future Learn
-
UK
N/A
online learning, online course, free course, agriculture
Current
Food security is a complex, global issue, in which we all play a part. In this free online course, you’ll join experts from the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development at the University of Reading, to investigate our relationship with agriculture and your own food habits.
We’ll take you on a journey around the world from Europe to Africa to Asia. Over six weeks, we’ll find out more about the challenges of growing crops and managing livestock at the regional, national, community and household level.
We’ll focus on the experience of family farmers (who produce 80% of the world’s food) in rural and urban settings in Uganda and the UK, asking:
Each week, we’ll invite you to take part in activities that will help you reflect on your own food habits, including keeping a food waste diary; analysing your weekly shop; and sharing your experiences of food and farming in your community.
Despite the fact that the world is no longer short of food, about 842 million people remain chronically hungry because they cannot afford to eat. In this context, you’ll understand how your preferences - and those of a myriad of other actors in the food system - impact on our global quest for food security.
To find out more about some of the issues covered in this course, read Andrew Ainslie’s post for the FutureLearn blog: “Why are dairy farmers taking to the streets in protest?”
Our Hungry Planet provides a taster of The University of Reading’s MSc in Food Security and Development.