Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

Successful completion of least one of the stage 2 applied economics and policy modules listed is a requirement.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

Food consumption is essential for human life. As societies evolved and became more industrialized and urbanized, most people lost their access and ability to grow the food they need. Most people in western societies now live in urban areas and buy their food in a variety of retail outlets. In fact, an increasing number of people not only no longer produce their food, but they also lack the knowledge or interest to prepare their meals. In other words, in more urbanized and industrial societies less people have direct access to food and ability to prepare it.

This raises the issue of food security, which essentially means we need to assure that people have the food they need to have healthy and productive lives. Thus, the main aim of this module is to describe and examine how food policy are designed, implemented and evaluate across the world to assure that citizens have access to safe, nutritious and affordable food that meets their needs and preferences.

Upon completion of this modules students will learn:
1. What is food policy and how it differs but relates to agriculture policy
2. Which agents affect and are impacted by food policy.
3. The process of designing and implementing alternative food polices
4. How policies are evaluated
5. How do examine set of current food policies and discuss their implications

Clearly food policy is a complex issue and can be examined (and taught) from different angles and perspectives. In this module, we will take a microeconomic analysis perspective. More specifically, we will introduce the economic concept of welfare and the basic frameworks emerging from it to design and assess food policies. Then we will discuss different policy instruments and finally we will examine some concrete examples of food policies and discuss their implications for businesses and consumers.

Outline Of Syllabus

Here is a list of topics that will be covered in this class. Note that these may change from year to year:
• The importance of food policy modern societies
• The links between food policy and food security
• The institutions that govern food policy
• The difference between agriculture and food policy
• The economic concepts and frameworks relevant to food policy design and implementation
• Alternative food policy instruments and option
• How food policy is evaluated
• The impact of food policies in business and consumer choices
• Case studies on contemporary global food policy issues

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of this module students should be able to understand (at lower levels of achievement) and critique (at higher levels of achievement):

• the food policy formulation process
• alternative policy instruments to address food challenges at the business or consumer level
• the application of economics theoretical and empirical frameworks to examine alternative food policy options
• how to assess the efficacy of a given food policy option through an informed evaluation of the evidence
• a range of contemporary food policy issues and their contexts

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of this module a successful student should have developed the following core skills:
• Critically discuss a range of food policy topics
• Analyse alternative food policy options
• Engage in informed discussions relating to food policy issues
• Develop written and oral communication skills through seminars and the assessment process
• acquire the ability to synthesize evidence and solving food policy challenges

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Formal lectures will introduce the content material for this class. Then the workshops will give the students an opportunity to learn by doing, in which they will have to identify and critically discuss alternative options to address and contemporary global food policy issue. They will do so by describe how different nations across the world have tackled a given food policy issue. The preparation for these workshop will be a form of formative assessment for their assessed coursework

The drop-in clinic session will be a online opportunity for students to pose questions on their assignments.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

This module will be assessed through a coursework essay, students will write an essay describing and critically appraising a current global food policy issue discussing the policy instrument being used and finding evidence on its merits. In the essay students will have to use concepts and frameworks taught in class but also use evidence from a other resources available on the academic and government literature on the subject. The essay will have a maximum of 1000 words (excluding those in reference list). It allows a more in-depth test of the students ability to critically engage with materials, synthesise information and develop a coherent argument on a specific food policy problem.

General Notes

N/A