Food Security and Sovereignty in the Arctic (1cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

The course aims to provide knowledge on the relationship between climate change, agriculture and food security and on what food sovereignty entails in the Arctic context.

After completion of the course the student is able to understand, discuss and analyze
- why does the food system need a change
- Arctic food industry and innovations in the Arctic food system
- the common language between policymakers, academics, and grassroots activists towards resilience, food security and sovereignty.

Execution methods

Lectures and exercises (6h), group work, independent work.

Accomplishment methods

Active participation in the lectures, reading requested course materials, group work and a successful completion of a learning diary

Content

The content of the course will cover the following issues:
- Food system, its complexity and transformation
- Resilience and coping mechanisms to ensure food security for individuals and households in the Arctic
- How can food sovereignty be used as a trans-regional framing device in the debate of eco-cultural issues and other dialogues?
- The role of local movements in driving the future food system
- Digital tools along the value chain, prevention of food loss and waste and circular bio-economy.

Materials

Hossain, K., Raheem, D. & Cormier, S. (2018). Food security Governance in the Arctic-Barents region. New York: Springer Nature. Available at: http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319757551#aboutBook.

Cormier, S. & Raheem, D. (2018). Food security in the Barents region. Routledge. Available at: https://www.routledge.com/Society-Environment-and-Human-Security-in-the-Arctic-Barents-Region/Hossain-Cambou/p/book/9780815399841 (e-book).

FAO (2016). The State of Food and Agriculture: Climate change, agriculture and food security. Available at: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6030e.pdf.

Hossain, K., Hermann, T. & Raheem, D. (2018). Food (in)Security across the Circumpolar Arctic. Book Chapter 38 in Handbook on Arctic Security. Routledge.

Raheem, D. (2018). Food and nutrition as a measure of resilience in the Barents region. Urban Science, 2018, 2, 72. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci2030072. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), Switzerland (open access).

Nilsson L. M. & Evengård B. (2015). Food Security or Food Sovereignty: What Is the Main Issue in the Arctic? In B. Evengård, J. Nymand Larsen & Ø. Paasche (Eds) The New Arctic. Cham: Springer.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Fail: Performance is highly deficient or erroneous. The work may be based on serious misunderstandings.

Sufficient and satisfactory (1-2): Performance is lacking in scope, superficial, or corresponds poorly to the assignment. The author merely lists things out of context or addresses them one-sidedly. The work may contain errors or obscurities.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good and very good (3-4): Performance corresponds to the assignment, manifesting comprehension and a skill to analyse and justify. The author has addressed the issue comprehensively. The work may contain some deficiencies.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5): Performance delineates an extensive whole and the author can apply knowledge in a multifaceted way or place it in various contexts. The work manifests independency and insight, and it is a flawless entity that involves justified thinking or critical contemplation. The work is well written and implemented.

Qualifications

No previous studies required. However, participation in the Arctic Ecosystems and Adaptation of Species to Arctic Environment course will be an advantage.