CCGL9016
Feeding the World
1st Semester 2022/2023
Course Instructors: Dr. George Akom (Coordinator)
e-mail:
[email protected] Rm222, Hui Oi Chow Science Building
Prof. David Phillips
e-mail:
[email protected]Venue: Lectures: Saturdays, 10.30-12.20, CYPP4
Small Group tutorials: times and groups to be arranged
Theme of the course: Fighting against starvation in a wealthy world
Special Focus for 2022/2023: Will Chinese Money Help to Feed the World?
Continuing human population increases, competition for water supplies,
and concern about energy prices have led to profound pessimism about
long-term food supplies. Already a billion people go hungry every day.
This course will offer an in-depth look at key issues in global food
sufficiency, food production, food distribution, prospects and constraints.
It is accessible to students from all fields of study and academic
backgrounds. You will develop an integrated technical, economic and
political understanding of the global food supply crisis. You will be
equipped to understand and appreciate media reports related to this issue
in your lives as informed and influential citizens.
We consider the technological, political, economic and ethical dimensions
of the global food supply enterprise. The capacity of modern agriculture to
produce food, and the capacity of the political system to distribute food
globally will be examined.
The idea is to give an academically rigorous course that will cross disciplinary
boundaries and help develop your analytical skills and general understanding of
an important topic.
The course is open to students of all backgrounds, and hopefully this diversity
can enhance the classroom environment. The level of science required is quite
low, and none of the assessments (for example class test) will particularly favor
students with greater science background.
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Please keep us informed of any concerns or suggestions you have about the
course. We are always happy to hear feedback – if you find something too
confusing, then we can set up additional time to help you.
Lecture Schedule (CYPP4)
Topic 1: Global Production
Saturday Dr. Akom
rd
3 September Food production and population trends: an
(10.30-12.20) introduction to the problems inherent in agricultural
activity and the relationships among production,
population and import/export of food.
Course requirements and expectations
Topic 2: Focus on China
Saturday Dr. Akom
10th September The special problem of China, the world’s biggest
(10.30-12.20) producer and consumer of food; can and should China
aim for self-sufficiency? As demand increases, who
can feed China?
Topic 3: The Green Revolution
Saturday Dr. Akom
17th September The wheat revolution in Mexico and India; the Asian
(10.30-12.20) rice revolution. Interaction of technical and social
factors. Role of biotechnology – promising or limited?
Topic 4: Genetic Modification
Saturday Dr. Akom
24th September What are genetically modified crops? What are their
(10.30-12.20) potential benefits and risks? Why is this such an
emotional and political topic?
Topic 7: Biofuels
Saturday Dr. Akom
8th October Biofuels: is bioethanol a viable contributor to global
(10.30-12.20) liquid fuel energy needs, or does it compete unfairly
with poor consumers for limited supplies of food
grains? What technologies would be needed to shift
biofuel production to a new level?
Saturday ** Reading Week** - no class
15th October
Saturday Topic 5: Energy
22th October Prof.
(10.30-12.20) Agriculture is an energy-intensive business. Where do Phillips
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the resources to support agriculture come from? What
are the energy demands of agricultural chemical
production, equipment, farm operations, and
distribution?
Saturday **Open Day** - no class ???
29th October
Saturday Topic 6: Water & Chemical Inputs
5th November Prof.
Water and agriculture. Industrialization and Phillips
urbanization compete with agriculture for limited
water supplies. Salinization and pollution of water
limit agricultural productivity and impact on the
healthfulness of the food supply.
How are fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, hormones,
antibiotics and other agricultural chemicals used to
sustain high production agriculture?
Saturday Topic 8: Waste
12th November Dr. Akom
(10.30-12.20) Looking at the agricultural supply chain from farm to
dinner-plate, there are many sources of loss, waste,
damage and deterioration of products. Remember,
half the grain in India is eaten by rats. Storage,
recycling, reduced packaging, and waste reduction
efforts will be discussed.
Saturday Topic 9: Sustainability Dr. Akom
19th November
(10.30-12.20) Action plans taken to achieve sustainable agriculture.
Food security, consumption patterns, resource
competition. Efficiencies, technologies and systems
for the future.
Topic 10: Dr. Akom
Saturday Integrating Your Learning – Final Exam!!
26th November
(10.30-12.30) To prove competence in a subject like this you must 90 minutes
know something, understand something, interpret
something, and integrate something. The exam uses a
mix of MCQ, short answer, and short interpretive
essays to assess these learning outcomes.
Approximate lecture coverage is indicated above. The lectures cannot deal in detail
with each topic. References will be posted on Moodle.
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Recommended Reference List
Corke, H., & Cai, Y. Z. (2016). Grain production and consumption. Asia. Elsevier.
FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. (2022). The State of Food Security
and Nutrition in the World 2022. Repurposing food and agricultural policies
to make healthy diets more affordable. Rome, FAO.
https://doi.org/10.4060/cc0639en
FAO. (2017). The future of food and agriculture – Trends and challenges. Rome.
FAO. (2020). The State of Food and Agriculture 2020. Overcoming water challenges
in agriculture. Rome. From https://doi.org/10.4060/cb1447en
The Economist. (2011). The 9 billion-people question A special report on feeding the
world. London.
Grade Descriptors:
(Letter grades may be adjusted with + or ‘-‘ to reflect finer differences in
performance)
Grade A is given to students who meet with conspicuous excellence every demand
that can fairly be made by the course.
Grade B is given to those students who add to the minimum of satisfactory attainment
excellence in not all, but some of the following: organization, accuracy, originality,
understanding, insight.
Grade C is given to those students who have attained a satisfactory familiarity with
the content of a course and who have demonstrated ability to use this knowledge in a
satisfactory manner.
Grade D is a passing grade, indicating some competence with the material but
presenting major omissions or errors of fundamental understanding.
Grade F Failure.
Grading:
The final exam (90 minutes) counts 40% of the course grade. The exam
consists of multiple choice and short answer questions, as well as short essays.
The project and presentation will count 40%.
Other assessment may count 10% (attendance, participation, quizzes, as
appropriate).
Your active participation in your own group project and active engagement in
classes and tutorials will make the exam a lot easier for you.
Tutorials (details to follow)
We will have tutorial (discussion) groups of about 12-14 students. You will join one
session once a week starting in the week of September 19 th. There will be SIX
4
tutorials this year. Topics and reading material for preparation for the tutorials will be
distributed later.
Group Assignment with Oral Presentation
Work in groups of four (preferred) (exceptionally you may request a different size
group).
Identify an important topic within the general theme of Will Chinese Money Help to
Feed the World? The topic should be one that can be investigated using statistical
data (such as production, import and export data for crops, livestock, or chemicals;
and/or data on human health and nutrition indicators).
The topic should be discussed and agreed with Dr. Akom and a written outline
submitted by Reading Week. Typically you will identify an existing major
Chinese agricultural development project overseas, and analyze its origin,
rationale, and potential. OR identify a potential development that would be
suitable for Chinese input, and develop a feasibility study for it.
Collect and analyze the data (preferably drawing as far as possible on FAOStat and
OECD.Stat databases). Further research the topic using any other appropriate sources
of information and prepare a written report in Powerpoint form.
Be prepared to lead a 12-minute presentation on the topic during one of the final 2
weeks of the semester.
The assessment of the project will be mainly based on –
Quality of research and analysis
Clarity of presentation and focus in summarizing the subject in an informative
way.
There will be about 30 student presentations, spread over 4 separate sessions, with
each session of about 3 hours.
You will be required to attend the equivalence of ONE WHOLE SESSION (about 8
presentations by student groups) of up to 3 hours, and participate fully in presenting,
asking questions, contributing to discussion, and providing a written integrative
summary.
The 4 planned session dates are:
A. November 18th (Friday) 2:30-5:30pm Venue to be arranged
B. November 19th (Saturday) 1:30-4:30pm Venue to be arranged
C. November 21st (Monday) 9:30-12:30pm Venue to be arranged
D. November 22nd (Saturday) 9:30-12:30pm Venue to be arranged
