Urban Food Systems Analysis
ENV 298, Environmental Science, Science and Math
Credits: 3 (ICS distribution requirement, IS designation)
Instructors: Katie Gagnon
Offerings: winter, 2010

• Investigate urban-rural food system dynamics
• Explore the effects of food production models
• Research farmland preservation coupled with development and growth management
• Learn about food security strategies such as food banks, urban gardens, food cooperatives and farmers markets

Course goals: This first goal of this course is to identify the key components of food systems in urban areas and map the complex interactions among those components. Secondly, this course seeks to use scientific reasoning and research principles to exlpore variations in the food system such as the effects of agricultural production models, scale and bioregionalism. Finally, in this course we will work to understand the modes and value of food security in urban areas, through food banks, urban gardens, food cooperatives and farmers markets. 

As a result of taking this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and map the components of a food system, from the land to the consumer
• Analyze interactions and quantify production and needs in a food system
• Identify potential points and methods of intervention (politically, economically, socially and ecologically) to create change in the food system, e.g. increase consumption of local food, increase local production, etc.
• Weigh tradeoffs that result from changes in food systems
• Write, research and present findings on one pathway in the local food system