Sustainable Food Systems

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Sustainable Food Systems

Instructor: Anna Ball, Ph.D.

5,669 already enrolled

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8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

37 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

37 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Explore the pillars of sustainability in food production and examine grand challenges in food, nutrition, economics, environment, & energy systems.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

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Assessments

9 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 8 modules in this course

Throughout this course, you will delve into the intricate details of the food production system through a system-thinking lens. You will examine the grand challenges faced by the food, fiber, and natural resource industries, and their repercussions on people, the planet, and profit. By the end of this course, you will have a clear understanding of the concept of systems thinking, be able to explain the three key pillars of sustainability and link these pillars to social, environmental, and economic systems.

In this module, learners will explore the complexities of the food system, examine the ways systems thinking influences our world, and examine some of the grand challenges and emerging issues in the food, economic, environmental, and energy systems.

What's included

7 videos6 readings1 assignment

7 videos Total 37 minutes

Course Overview 6 minutes
Meet Your Instructor | Dr. Anna Ball 2 minutes
Module 1 Introduction 1 minute
Defining the Food System 6 minutes
Defining Systems Thinking 6 minutes
Distinguishing Local from Global Challenges in the Food System 8 minutes
Exploring Grand Challenges and Emerging Issues in Food, Economic, Environmental, and Energy Systems 8 minutes

6 readings Total 82 minutes

Syllabus 10 minutes
Interviewees in this Course 10 minutes
Systems Approach: What and Why 15 minutes
Sustainability is all about systems-thinking--here's why 15 minutes
Reframing the local-global food systems debate through a resilience lens 30 minutes
Grand Challenges Overview 2 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 1 Quiz | Food System as a System 30 minutes

In this module, learners will investigate the three pillars of sustainability and their relationship to the food system, explore major challenges and emerging issues, and examine the ultimate goal of derisking the future.

What's included

7 videos2 readings1 assignment

7 videos Total 28 minutes

Module 2 Introduction 1 minute
Defining Sustainability 6 minutes
Identifying the Three Pillars of Sustainability 3 minutes
Describing Sustainability: People 8 minutes
Describing Sustainability: Planet 5 minutes
Describing Sustainability: Profit 4 minutes
Module 2 | Summary 1 minute

2 readings Total 37 minutes

Definitions: Sustainability and Food Systems 12 minutes
Sustainable Food Systems: Concept and Framework 25 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 2 Quiz | Sustainability in the Food System 30 minutes

In this module, learners will define and explore the types of food production systems, examine the production and processing systems in the food systems, and investigate the roles of consumers and producers.

What's included

7 videos2 readings1 assignment

7 videos Total 45 minutes

Module 3 Introduction 1 minute
Defining Food Production Systems 6 minutes
Describing Food Production: Animal Systems 7 minutes
Explaining Food Production: Crop Systems 15 minutes
Examining Production to Processing in the Food System 7 minutes
Defining the Roles of Consumers and Producers in the Food System 9 minutes
Module 3 | Wrap-up 1 minute

2 readings Total 14 minutes

More Farmers Adopt Conservation Tillage 6 minutes
Farmers Are Breeding Heat-Resistant Cows 8 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 3 Quiz | Food Production Systems 30 minutes

In this module, learners will investigate issues related to world hunger, access to nutritious food, food deserts. Learners will also explore the emotional and cultural connections to food.

What's included

5 videos4 readings1 assignment

5 videos Total 30 minutes

MODULE 4 | Introduction 1 minute
Investigating Issues in World Hunger 7 minutes
Examining Access to Nutritious Food 9 minutes
Describing Food Deserts 5 minutes
Exploring Emotional and Cultural Connections to Food 7 minutes

4 readings Total 33 minutes

Perennial Rice: Plant once, harvest again and again 15 minutes
Perennial Grains Could be the Future of Regenerative Agriculture 5 minutes
What is food security? 3 minutes
The Environmental Justice Movement 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 4 Quiz | Food and Nutrition 30 minutes

In this module, learners will explore environmental grand challenges and investigate issues related to water and soil quality.

What's included

3 videos2 readings1 assignment

3 videos Total 24 minutes

MODULE 5 | Introduction 1 minute
Exploring Environmental Grand Challenges 10 minutes
Investigating Water and Soil Quality 13 minutes

2 readings Total 30 minutes

Here's How Much Food Contributes to Climate Change 20 minutes
Wastewater to Energy: New Treatment Process Can Improve Biorefinery Sustainability 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 5 Quiz | Food and the Environment 30 minutes

In this module, learners will examine issues in land access and food production demands, explore potential uses of non-productive land, and investigate the influence of a consumer-driven economy.

What's included

4 videos3 readings1 assignment

4 videos Total 30 minutes

MODULE 6 | Introduction 1 minute
Examining Issues in Land Access and Production Demands 14 minutes
Exploring Uses of Non-Productive Land 5 minutes
Investigating the Consumer-Driven Economy 11 minutes

3 readings Total 28 minutes

The Dollars and Sense of Sustainability 10 minutes
Can sustainability standards effectively mitigate food system challenges? 12 minutes
How Consumers And Farmers Can Transform Food Systems 6 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 6 Quiz | Economics of the Food System 30 minutes

In this module, learners will explore grand challenges in energy and technology within the food system, examine the roles of switchgrass and carbon in our environment, and investigate issues in energy and technology.

What's included

4 videos2 readings1 assignment

4 videos Total 25 minutes

MODULE 7 | Introduction 1 minute
Exploring Grand Challenges in Energy and Technology within the Food System 5 minutes
Examining the Roles of Switchgrass and Carbon 9 minutes
Investigating Issues in Energy and Technology 10 minutes

2 readings Total 32 minutes

What is renewable energy? 12 minutes
What is Sustainable Energy and Why Do We Need It? 20 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 7 Quiz | Energy and Technology in the Food System 30 minutes

In this module, learners will examine the complexities of and decisions associated with food, food production systems, and sustainability. Learners will explore specific ways he/she/they can contribute toward solutions for grand challenges in sustainability and sustainable food systems.

What's included

5 videos2 readings2 assignments

5 videos Total 25 minutes

MODULE 8 | Introduction 1 minute
Investigating Complexities of Food and Food Decisions 8 minutes
Identifying Complex Issues of the Food System and Sustainability 8 minutes
Examining Food and Sustainability 6 minutes
Course Summary 2 minutes

2 readings Total 80 minutes

Final Assessment | Part 1 20 minutes
Final Assessment | Part 2 60 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

MODULE 8 Quiz | Examining Grand Challenges; Moving Toward Solutions 30 minutes
Final Assessment | Analysis 30 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(16 ratings)

Anna Ball, Ph.D.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

1 Course 5,669 learners

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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Reviewed on Nov 12, 2024

A very mind transforming course indeed. It is an addition to me as a graduate of Agricultural Extension

Reviewed on Sep 18, 2024

This course is really helpful to understand food systems in present times especially with context to sustainable energy, renewable energy, perennials, landscape diversity, circular economy etc

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