Food and Industrial Biotechnology

To cope with the energy and food security issues is necessary to integrate the agri-food production systems between them and within the environmental and socio-cultural dimensions. The course aims to provide students with the conceptual and analytical tools for the study of such integration, highlighting the potential and current roles of biotechnological innovation. By the end of this course students will have the theoretical and methodological tools to analyse the ecological and socio-economic dimensions of a production system as well as to plan a better integration between its parts and to improve the material-energy-information flow within the system Expected learning results Knowledge and understanding Students will achieve knowledge and ability to read and interpret: 1) towards our current food systems from production to consumption; 2) the urgent need to move to long-term sustainable systems. Applying knowledge and understanding The knowledge learned will allow students to conduct the analysis of a production system from an ecological and socio-economic point of view and develop a plan for integrating the different parts of the system and improving the flows of matter-energy-information. Making judgements The knowledge learned during the course will allow students to develop their independent judgment concerning the economic, social, environmental, and philosophical aspects of an ecological approach to agricultural production. Communication skills During the course and the exercises on different case studies, the knowledge learned will allow students to elaborate opinions on issues of and problems related to agricultural production systems and their impact on the environment. Learning skills The course aims to develop and refine students' analysis and critical assessment skills concerning food and environmental safety. ----