FDSC10030
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Academic Year 2025/2026
Our Food, Our Planet: Introduction to Sustainable Food Systems (FDSC10030)
Subject: : Food Science
College: : Health & Agricultural Sciences
School: : Agriculture & Food Science
Level: : 1 (Introductory)
Credits: : 5
Module Coordinator: : Professor Alexander Evans
Trimester: : Spring
Mode of Delivery: : On Campus
Internship Module: : No
How will I be graded? : Letter grades
Curricular information is subject to change.
This module will introduce students to the challenges, and some of the solutions, to sustainable food systems at a global scale.\ \ The module is also relevant to all undergraduate students UCD students interested in food and sustainability.
About this Module
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What will I learn?
Learning Outcomes:
Appreciate the challenges of feeding a growing global population.\ \ Have a basic understanding of the functions of foods (e.g. nutrition, livelihoods and the economy) and the challenge of\ defining sustainable diets.\ \ Have an appreciation for food production, food commodities, the food supply chain, food price and food waste.\ \ Gain an understanding of the food and climate change conundrum, including the contribution of plant and animal sourced foods.\ \ Be able to critique some of the wider food issues related to challenges of animal feed, biofuels, biodiversity and future foods.\
Indicative Module Content:
Some of the topics to be covered include: history of food, food for the global population, food security, nutrition and food, ultra-processed foods, sustainable diets, food waste, food commodities, food production systems, food supply chains, food price today, food & climate change, animal sourced foods, plant based foods, food and biodiversity, food versus fuel, genetically modified foods, and future foods.\
How will I learn?
Student Effort Hours:
| Student Effort Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 24 |
| Specified Learning Activities | 26 |
| Autonomous Student Learning | 50 |
| --- | --- |
| Total | 100 |
\
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will be delivered through face-to-face lectures with all material being available via Bright Space. \ \ Continuous assessment will be designed to encourage self-reflection enquiry and learning.\
Am I eligible to take this module?
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Not applicable to this module.
\
Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module. \ \
How will I be assessed?
Assessment Strategy
| Description | Timing | Component Scale | Must Pass Component | % of Final Grade | In Module Component Repeat Offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam (In-person): End of Trimester Exam - short questions and/or MCQ | End of trimester Duration: 1 hr(s) | Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% | No | 50 | No |
| Quizzes/Short Exercises: In class, open book, short questions (30%) | Week 11 | Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% | No | 30 | No |
| Reflective Assignment: Take-home reflection and assessment of own food practices habits and motivation (20%) | Week 5 | Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% | No | 20 | No |
\
Carry forward of passed components
Yes
\
What happens if I fail?
| Resit In | Terminal Exam |
|---|---|
| Autumn | Yes - 1 Hour |
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \
Assessment feedback
Feedback Strategy/Strategies
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment\ • Group/class feedback, post-assessment\
How will my Feedback be Delivered?
Not yet recorded.
Associated Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr Zoe McKay | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
When is this module offered?
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 | Wed 13:00 - 14:50 |