Over the next 40 years humanity will need to double food production in order to keep up with demand. Doing this without destroying the biosphere will be one of this century's greatest challenges. This course examines the relationships between large-scale environmental change and food production. We will explore how accelerating changes to Earth's natural systems are impacting the quality and quantity of food we produce. We will also explore how food production systems are altering the global environment. Drawing on several different disciplines including environmental science, epidemiology, agricultural economics, food policy, and political ecology, we will examine how we can optimize human nutrition while minimizing ecological degradation. Students will investigate the ways in which current trajectories in environmental change may affect food production and food security and, conversely, the ways in which food production and dietary decisions may impact the environment. Emphasis will be on critical readings, discussions of current empirical evidence and independent research. Grades will be based on response papers, a major research paper and participation in course discussions.
