Feeding the billions - Challenges and Innovation in Food and Water Security Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Overview

The Feeding the billions - Challenges and Innovation in Food and Water Security course is delivered at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam 

Key facts:

There are 8.0 billion people to feed today, and this number is expected to increase to about 10 billion by 2050. More food is needed, and more food means more water for crops and livestock to grow.

This course is evidence-based and addresses food and water challenges and innovative interventions from various disciplinary perspectives and socio-cultural contexts, using real-life examples. This year, students will collaborate with students from Rhodes University in South Africa on joint assignments and presentations through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). Interactive theoretical lecture sessions (partly online) are alternated with discussions, group work, and a field visit. Students will benefit from discussions with their peers from different disciplinary backgrounds and countries of origin. At least five of the following topics will be covered: 

• Food systems, Food and Nutrition Security and Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture

• Water management, water security and Climate-Smart Agriculture

• Extension services, Policies & challenges

• International food markets and economic factors that affect food security

• Innovative interventions along the value chain (from farm to fork)

We bring practice to the classroom by using real-life examples from the Netherlands and from South Africa. Assessment will be based on students’ participation in discussions, debates, and group presentations.