Food Security

During the second semester students take their selected optional courses. The students have different timetables, depending on which courses they have chosen and when the different courses are scheduled. Some courses are focused on one or a few weeks of study whereas others are stretched over the whole semester. In addition, some courses involve students from other Masters programmes.

The courses that are completed in January are Animal Ethics and Global Animal Production. The Policies for Sustainability and Development course, delivered by the Adam Smith Business School starts in January and continues over a 10-week period with one session per week. This latter course is popular among students with an interest in the socio-economic aspects of food security. Policies for Sustainability and Development discusses a range of issues concerned with economic development, including policy approaches and governance, utilization of environmental resources and energy technologies.

Global Animal Production explains different animal production and processing systems, the tracing of animals in international trade and the mechanisms for quality assurance; the course also discusses animal diseases in relation to public health. The students visit a local farm and animal market and complete two written assignments for their assessment.

Animal Ethics focuses on the ethical issues associated with the use of animals and discusses welfare and legislation. In this course students are assessed by oral presentation and a written assignment. January is therefore a busy month, particularly for students who take several of the above courses!

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First published: 20 May 2020