Unit Outline

This unit introduces students to the politics, policy, and political economy of the modern commercial food system. The modern food system is increasingly considered to be unsustainable due to its carbon carbon intensity, reliance on synthetic chemicals, plastic packaging, food waste, health impacts, and worker and consumer exploitation. The unit is divided into three modules. The first module introduces students to systems thinking and compares and contrasts hunting and gathering, subsistence agriculture, and market exchange approaches to food provisioning. In the second module, the contribution of the modern food system to climate change, health, labour exploitation, and resource waste is investigated. The final module examines mainstream, reformist, and radical policy proposals for food system transformation. Taking the view the 'personal is political', students will be encouraged to reflect on their own food practices and consider whether and how these might need to change for the food system to be meaningfully sustainable.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Explain discrete and systems thinking concepts and how they are applied to food systems.
2	Compare and contrast the sustainability of conventional, high-tech, export-oriented food systems with people-centred, community-oriented, values-balanced alternatives and hybrid approaches.
3	Apply a sustainable systems approach to local food systems.
4	Critically evaluate the impact of food policies and practices on your home, the university and the workplace.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Additional week on systems theory/thinking. Updated readings and resources.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Political Economy of Food	Week 7	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Place-Based Case Study	Week 14	50 %	LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Participation in weekly tutorials	Refer to Assessment Description	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Political Economy of Food

Task Description:

Written assignment comparing and contrasting different ways of characterising the food system. See MyLO site for further details

See MyLO site for further detials

Task Length:

2,000 words

Due Date:

Week 7 (13/Sep/2024)

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain key concepts and ideas in the ecological political economy of sustainable food systems literature	LO1, LO2, LO4
2	Compare and contrast conventional, alternative and hybrid approaches to sustainable food systems	LO1, LO2, LO4
3	Develop an argument that critically evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches discussed	LO1, LO2, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Place-Based Case Study

Task Description:

Drawing on systems thinking, undertake a case study of a place-based food topic. See MyLO site for further details.

Task Length:

3,500 words

Due Date:

Week 14 (01/Nov/2024)

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and explain the main features of your chosen place-based food case study	LO3, LO4
2	Apply systems thinking to contextualise the contribution your chosen place-based food case study makes to the required food sustainability transformation.	LO3, LO4
3	Critically evaluate whether and how your place-based case study contributes to the sustainable transformation of the modern commercial food system.	LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Participation in weekly tutorials

Task Description:

Participation in weekly tutorials involves (i) commenting on the presentations of the unit coordinator and other students; and (ii) making one presentation on an assigned tutorial topic during the semester.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critically evaluate the meaning of food systems concepts, the distinction between theoretical approaches, and their practical application in specific food systems contexts	LO1, LO2, LO4
2	Explain the theoretical, practical and policy aspects of the food systems issues raised by weekly readings as well as student and/or lecturer presentations	LO1, LO2
3	Provide examples relevant to the week’s topic from the set readings, other readings or personal observation with regard to sustainable food systems	LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.