RDEV30160
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Academic Year 2025/2026
Food Poverty and Policy (RDEV30160)
Subject: : Rural Development
College: : Health & Agricultural Sciences
School: : Agriculture & Food Science
Level: : 3 (Degree)
Credits: : 5
Module Coordinator: : Professor James Kinsella
Trimester: : Autumn
Mode of Delivery: : Blended
Internship Module: : No
How will I be graded? : Letter grades
Curricular information is subject to change.
Globalization goes well beyond the boundaries of economics and markets and impacts on the very basic needs that sustain people's lives, including their access to food. It is estimated that in 2009 more than one billion people were food poor and for reasons of access, affordability or availability do not have enough food to meet their basic nutritional needs for healthy lives. At the same time almost one billion people are categorised as obese. The linkage between people's access to food at household level and the general state of the market place have never been as strong e.g. transport and energy costs in Europe impact on the costs of basic food stuffs for poor households not just in Europe but also in poor regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. Historically many countries have been shaped by periods of food poverty, including Ireland, and for hundreds of millions of households today chronic hunger is a reality. This module explores the causes of food poverty in poor countries of the South as well as some of the economically wealthier countries of the North. It aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop a deeper appreciation of both the extent and nature of food poverty as well as an understanding of the range of policies that aim to address this problem. This module has been developed as part of the Egalitarian World Initiative in UCD and with the financial support of Irish Aid.
About this Module
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What will I learn?
Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module students should be able to:\ explain the concept of food poverty and food security as it relates to the household, national and global levels;\ understand and describe the causes of food poverty and associated outcomes;\ identify the main policies and measures that are used to address food poverty in Ireland, the EU and in a number of developing countries; and\ identify challenges for Ireland in addressing food poverty both at home and abroad.
Indicative Module Content:
The main topics addressed in this module are:\ Understanding food poverty and security\ The extent of the problem\ Outcomes and causes of food poverty\ Policies and measures to address food poverty in Developing Countries\ Measuring the Extent of Food Poverty in Ireland – methods, data, trends\ Current/Recent Evidence re Food Poverty relating to Ireland and other High Income Countries\ National and International Policy Context Impacting on Food Poverty\ Actors and Institutions Impacting on Food Poverty\ Responses/Interventions Impacting on Food Poverty \ \ \
How will I learn?
Student Effort Hours:
| Student Effort Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 24 |
| Specified Learning Activities | 36 |
| Autonomous Student Learning | 50 |
| --- | --- |
| Total | 110 |
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Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The teaching and learning approaches used will combine class lectures, with group work and case-based learning.
Am I eligible to take this module?
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Not applicable to this module.
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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 semester exam - 1 hour | End of trimester Duration: 1 hr(s) | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 50 | Yes |
| Group Work Assignment: Group project on food poverty related to Irish/ EU situation | Week 11 | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 25 | No |
| Quizzes/Short Exercises: Short questions addressed through in-class test on Developing World experience of food poverty | Week 6 | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 25 | No |
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Carry forward of passed components
Yes
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What happens if I fail?
| Resit In | Terminal Exam |
|---|---|
| Spring | Yes - 1 Hour |
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \
Assessment feedback
Feedback Strategy/Strategies
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment\
How will my Feedback be Delivered?
Feedback on Group assignments will be provided through a feedback sheet to each group, post assessment Summary feedback on Class Test will be provided to class through Blackboard
Associated Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Assoc Professor Deirdre O'Connor | 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.
| Autumn | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 | Mon 13:00 - 13:50 |
| Autumn | Once Off | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 11 | Mon 13:00 - 13:50 |
| Autumn | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks | Wed 13:00 - 13:50 |