Farm to Fork: Sustainable Food Production in a Changing Environment

How does food reach our plates? How is the food industry changing? What threats are there to food supply chains? How can we build a sustainable food industry?

Get answers to these questions and more with this course that explores food and agriculture in the modern world. You will learn about the complexity of the global food supply chain, the vulnerability of the food industry to emerging threats and the solutions to stopping these threats early. You will also consider the issues surrounding production of food of animal origin.

This course is for people looking for an introduction to food supply chains and the future of agriculture - it’s ideal for students and young people looking to learn more about careers in the food industry.

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to:

• Discuss the interconnected one health approach to food production from farm to fork
• Illustrate knowledge and skills required to evaluate current and emerging risks to food safety and relate these to potential threats to human/animal health and global food security highlighting solutions to the issues
• Demonstrate the ability to critically assess the range of emerging risks that may be introduced during food production and manufacture systems and determine their potential impact on food safety and consumer health
• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the range and types of food insecurity affecting food safety, traceability and authenticity, and the regulatory requirements and challenges to the maintenance of food quality/safety
• Examine the ethical & bioethical constraints of the food chain: at the crossroads of objects, subjects, regulations, institutions & governments
• Encourage pursuit of a career in research, industry or entrepreneurship related to the food industry sector by showcasing the rising star companies.

Week 1: Water, Soil and Plant Health

• Soil Health
• Water Health
• Plant Health

Week 2: Animal Health and Welfare

• Animal Feed
• Prevention and Biosecurity
• Animal Welfare

Week 3: Food Safety and Human Health

• Control of Contaminants and Drug Residues in Food
• Ensuring Pathogen Free Food
• Monitoring

Week 4: Climate Change and Food Security

• Climate Change
• Climate Change and Soil Health
• Climate Change and Water Health
• Climate Change and Plant Health
• Climate Change and Animal Health