Urban Food Systems

About

Food is crucial to life. However, due to extreme climate change and rapidly rising populations, secure food access is not always guaranteed.

This course will teach you about food systems and their core concepts, in relation to urban growth and land-use patterns.

Key topics include spatial, social and economic accessibility, food choice and foodsheds. Additionally, these concepts are linked to city governance dynamics to help you understand stakeholder involvement and urban food policy making.

Putting theory to practice, these concepts will be connected to African city case studies, giving you a deep understanding of what shapes food systems in African cities.

What you will learn

• Understand the core concepts of a food system in the context of urban growth and land-use configurations and apply them to other contexts
• Understand urban food value chains and create your own food value chain chart
• Define the vulnerabilities and opportunities of urban food value chains
• Explain the three dimensions of food access: spatial, social and economic accessibility
• Evaluate the vulnerability and sustainability of the food system through the concept of foodsheds
• Understand dietary choices, the double burden of malnutrition and obesity
• Define and distinguish food security and dietary diversity, and identify target foods
• Understand and analyse urban food governance and develop a stakeholder map for an urban food system, inclusive of key governance activities
• Understand and analyse the governance dynamics regarding (peri)urban agriculture, food retail, food safety and infrastructure

Syllabus

Week 1: Basic Urban Food System Concepts
Introduction to basic urban food system concepts, and the context of urban growth and land-configurations.

Week 2: From Farm to Fork
Understanding food value chains, including urbanization impacts, vulnerabilities and opportunities.

Week 3: Food Accessibility
Considering the different dimension of food accessibility through spatial, social, economic accessibility and foodsheds.

Week 4: Food Choice
Understanding dietary choices in relation to the double burden of malnutrition, food security and dietary diversity.

Week 5: Urban Food Governance
Understanding and analyzing urban food governance, considering the stakeholder map and key governance activities, next to (peri)urban agriculture, food retail, food safety and infrastructure.

Auto Summary

"Urban Food Systems" is a compelling course offered by edX, designed for those interested in understanding the intricate dynamics of food systems within urban environments. This course delves into the myriad factors that influence food accessibility, choice, and safety amidst urban growth and land-use changes. Participants will explore key concepts such as foodsheds, urban agriculture, and food governance, providing a comprehensive overview of how cities can sustainably manage their food resources. Spanning 21 weeks, this awareness-level course is ideal for individuals seeking foundational knowledge in the science and engineering aspects of urban food systems. Learners can choose between Professional and Starter subscription options, making it accessible to a wide range of audiences, from curious beginners to those looking to enhance their professional expertise. This course is a valuable resource for anyone passionate about the future of food in our increasingly urbanized world.