1.74 | Fall 2020 | Graduate

Land, Water, Food, and Climate

Syllabus

Course Meeting Times

Lectures: 1 session / week, 3 hours / session

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this class.

Description

This is a reading and discussion seminar that includes lecture material. The readings are intended to provide a good basis for an informed discussion of the key topics included in the course title. The class readings change somewhat from year to year to reflect new publications and new issues. Please come prepared so we can start off with a lively discussion.

Calendar

Class # topics
Section 1: Framing the Discussion
1 The Food Security Debate
Section 2: Food and Natural Resources: Demand and Supply, Current and Projected
2 Demand for Food: Population, Diet, and Food Loss
3 Resources for Food Production: Water
4 Resources for Food Production: Land and Nutrients
Section 3: Reconciling Demand and Supply: Context
5 Crop Yield
6 Environmental Impacts of Agriculture: Protecting Natural Resources
7 Smallholder Farming: Focus on Africa
8 Climate Change and Agriculture
9 New Technologies and Practices: Genetic Engineering, Precision Agriculture
10 Trade and Optimal Resource Allocation
Section 4: Reconciling Demand and Supply: Options
11 Green Revolutions Past and Future
12 Agroecology

Grading

activities percentages
Presentations & Participation 70%
Research Paper 30%

Course Info

As Taught In
Fall 2020
Level
Learning Resource Types
Lecture Notes
Instructor Insights