| Semester 1, 2020 On-campus Toowoomba | |
| Short Description: | Food Security in 21st Century |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences |
| School or Department : | School of Sciences |
| Student contribution band : | Band 2 |
| ASCED code : | 050101 - Agricultural Science |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Rationale
This course aims to familiarise students with the concept of food security and how this is threatened by natural, demographic, logistical, economic and political factors. The course also aims to highlight the role of improvements in agricultural production as a mechanism for providing food for a rapidly increasing global population.
Synopsis
This course introduces food security as a concept whereby world populations have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. The threats to food security are outlined including those caused by natural phenomena, demographic, logistical and economic issues and changes to the political state of world regions. The role of improvements in agricultural production are extensively explored including methods for maximising crop productivity, soil and water conservation techniques, improvements in farming technologies and practices, logistical enhancements and economic and political considerations.
Objectives
On successful completion of this course students should be able to demonstrate:
- a comprehensive understanding of the concept of food security
- a thorough appreciation of the challenges and threats to food security
- an enhanced understanding of the Social, Political and Economic changes critical to enhancing food security
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Historical and Contemporary perspectives in food security | 20.00 |
| 2. | Environmental challenges to global food security | 30.00 |
| 3. | Social, Economic and Political challenges to global food security | 30.00 |
| 4. | Strategies to improve food security | 20.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=AGR8001)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
Fisher, R. A., Byerlee, D. and Edmeades 2014, Crop yields and global food security: will yield increase continue to feed the World? ACIAR Monograph No 158, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, ACT.
(Available online at .)
(Available online at .)
Reference materials
Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Rosegrant, M.W, Koo, J, Cenacchi, N, Ringler, C, Robertson, R, Fisher, M, Cox, C, Garrett, K, Perez, N.D & Sabbag, P 2014, , Food Security in a World of Natural Resource Scarcity, The Role of Agricultural Technologies, International Food Policy Research Institute.
(Available online at .)
(Available online at .)
Student workload expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Assessments | 60.00 |
| Lectures | 13.00 |
| Private Study | 89.00 |
| Tutorials | 13.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 100 | 25 | 16 Apr 2020 | |
| Essay 2 | 100 | 25 | 04 Jun 2020 | |
| Take Home Exam | 100 | 50 | End S1 | (see note 1) |
Notes
- This will be an open examination. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via StudyDesk. The examination date will be available via UConnect when the official examination timetable has been released.
Important assessment information
-
Attendance requirements:
There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.
Requirements after S1 2020:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the
marks or a grade of at least C-. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may
not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.) -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Requirements after S1 2020:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the end of semester examination by achieving at least 40% of the weighted marks available for that assessment item.
Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.
To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2). -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course. -
Examination information:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination
Requirements after S1 2020:
Candidates are only allowed to access specific materials during a Restricted Examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are:
i. Writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination);
ii. Students whose first language is not English, may, take an appropriate unmarked nonelectronic translation dictionary (but not technical dictionary) into the examination. Dictionaries with any handwritten notes will not be permitted. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date
Requirements after S1 2020:
Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next
examination period. -
University Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene University policies and practices. These policies can be found at .