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  3. Food for a Healthy Planet

Food for a Healthy Planet (UNIB10009)

Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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As part of the University’s response to COVID-19, please refer to the LMS for up-to-date information on subjects being delivered in the first half of 2020.
As part of the University’s response to the COVID-19 situation, please refer to the LMS for up-to-date information for subjects being offered in first half year 2020.

Overview

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Semester 1
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Food is a basic human need. Close to 800 million people suffer from chronic hunger. The world's farmers grow enough food to feed everyone,but it is not properly distributed. At the same time, over a billion people are suffering from diet related illness due to the availability of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods. By 2050 the world's population will increase by two or three billion, which will likely double the demand for food. The resources required to grow food are becoming scarce and climate change has the potential to irreversibly damage the natural resource base on which agriculture depends. Through engaging experts from across multiple disciplines, Food for a Healthy Planet subjects explore the global mega trends that are impacting on human health and planetary health and teaches students about the impacts food choices might have on their health and on the environment.

Food for a Healthy Planet will cover:

  1. The fundamentals of nutrition for optimal health
    • Macronutrients and micronutrients
    • Evolution of the human diet
    • Overweight and obesity
  2. An introduction to global food security
  3. An exploration of global environmental challenges such as climate change
  4. Fundamentals of sustainable food production and consumption
  5. Economics of food production

Intended learning outcomes

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



  • Understand global food supply, demand and nutrition in an inter-related multidisciplinary fashion
  • Analyse global factors affecting food security
  • Critically evaluate global food supply, demand and nutrition policies

Generic skills

This subject encompasses particular generic skills. On completion of the subject, students should be able to:

  • Think critically and organise knowledge
  • Derive, interpret and analyse information from primary and secondary sources
  • Demonstrate both written and oral communication skills
  • Participate in a discussion group and develop a logical argument to support a particular position
  • Participate effectively as a member of a team
  • Plan work, use time effectively and participate in small group projects

Last updated: 26 March 2020