Future of Food

Course manual 2021/2022

Course content

In this course, students are challenged to develop research-based approaches that contribute to the urban food system, and in particular to the food system of the Amsterdam Metropolitan region. The course entails (1) a critical assessment of the current urban food system through food asset planning, (2) a critical evaluation of current tools and approaches used, and the performance of leading food agents, and (3) an advice consisting of policy recommendations for improving the urban food system. Students will present their insights and recommendations during a symposium with researchers, students and professionals.

The student research effort - embedded in a group assignment - starts from basic knowledge concepts which have been explored in preceding courses (in particular Food and the City in semester 1). Concepts such as food systems, transition management, Multi-Level Perspective, urban food policy and planning, collaborative planning, food asset mapping, and food councils will be operationalised and applied. Moreover, students are challenged to make a contribution to the process of food planning in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Region.

Study materials

Literature

• The following literature is aimed to get started and needs to be complemented with additional articles and books.

   

  Defining your food system and food asset mapping

  FAO (2018) City Region Food System Tools/Examples: City Region Food System Toolkit. Rome: FAO. http://www.fao.org/3/i9255en/I9255EN.pdf (Retrieved on 25 November 2021)

  - Defining a City Region Food System: pp.1-2, 31-34

  - Food asset mapping: pp.83-85, 86-89, 133-144

   

  Overview of food planning tools

  De Zeeuw, H. & Dubbeling, M. (2015) Process and tools for multi-stakeholder planning of the urban agro/food system. In: De Zeeuw, H. & Drechsel, P. (2015) Cities and Agriculture. Developing Resilient Urban Food Systems. London: Routledge, pp.56-87. https://ruaf.org/document/cities-and-agriculture-developing-resilient-urban-food-systems/ (Retrieved on 25 November 2021)

  Sibbing, L., Candel, J., & Termeer, K. (2021). A comparative assessment of local municipal food policy integration in the Netherlands. International Planning Studies, 26(1), 56-69.

Objectives

• Identify the characteristics and institutional dynamics of an urban food system at various scales
• Identify and value promising niches for transforming urban food systems
• Make a selection of relevant tools (e.g. provided in the City Region Food System Toolkit) in order to assess the food system in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Region
• Translate innovative and sustainable solutions pertaining to the urban food system and food practices into policy recommendations
• Critically reflect upon the opportunities and pitfalls of the policy recommendations identified, in particular in regard to the established institutional setting of the urban food system

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Seminar
• Self-study
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
• Supervision/feedback meeting
• Presentation/symposium

The course works towards the delivery of a series of group assignments (a report, a policy brief, and a presentation). The group assignments will be executed in groups of 4-5 students. Students are expected to demonstrate their progress on weekly basis.

Two introduction lectures are organised in which the assignments are explained, and more information regarding food asset mapping and food planning tools is provided.

Four working groups are organised to discuss the students' progress (e.g. presenting your work) and to receive feedback (from your fellow students and lecturers).

The final session of this course is a festive symposium in which each group will present his/her results not only to each other, but also to a group of researchers and professionals.

Learning activities

Attendance

Programme's requirements concerning attendance (OER-B):

• Participation in fieldwork is compulsory and cannot be replaced by assignments or other courses.
• In case of practical sessions, the student is obliged to attend at least of 90% of the sessions and to prepare himself adequately, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. In case the student attends less than 90%, the practical sessions should be redone entirely.
• In case of tutorials/seminars with assignments, the student is obliged to attend at least 7 out of 8 seminars and to prepare thoroughly for these meetings, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. If the course has more than 8 seminars, the student can miss up to 1 extra meeting for every (part of) 8 tutorials/seminars. If the students attends less than the mandatory tutorials/seminars, the course cannot be completed.

Additional requirements for this course:

Students are obliged to attend at least 3 out of 4 working groups sessions. In case the student attends less, the practical sessions should be redone entirely.

Assessment

The groups are working towards three assignments, with deadlines throughout the course. The project design, food asset mapping and policy brief can be re-done in consultation with the lecturers. The presentation cannot be re-done.

Assessment diagram

Inspection of assessed work

Inspection of assessed work will be communicated by Jaap Rothuizen, coordinating tutor on request. Contact Jaap through j.v.rothuizen@uva.nl.

Assignments

The assignments have to be made in groups of 4-5 students.

Students will receive feedback from the tutors in the working groups, and from the course coordinator by e-mail.

Students are expected to complete four deliverables:

1.Research design (preparatory assignment; 0% weight)

2. Food asset mapping (40% weight)

3. Policy brief with solutions and food planning tools (40% weight)

4. Presentation (20% weight)

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Last year's course evaluation

In order to provide students some insight how we use the feedback of student evaluations to enhance the quality of education, we decided to include the table below in all course guides.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. Jannes Willems

Staff

• J.V. Rothuizen
• J. van der Klei