Module Information
Module Identifier
BSM0420
Module Title
FOOD SECURITY - SOLUTIONS
Academic Year
2011/2012
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff
- Dr John D Fish
- Dr John Scullion
- Professor Michael Abberton
- Dr Rattan Yadav
- Dr Basil T Wolf
- Dr Joseph E Ironside
- Professor Karl Hoffmann
- Dr Luis A J Mur
- Dr Sofia Consuegra Del Olmo
- Professor Charles J Newbold
- Professor Peter Brophy
- Dr Robert J Wootton
- Dr Michael Lee
- Dr Mike Humphreys
- Dr Malcolm Leitch
- Dr Athole Marshall
- C Howarth
- Dr Michael Rose
- Dr Justin Pachebat
- Dr Alison Kingston-Smith
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 30 x 1 hour lectures |
| Other | 5 x 2 hour drop-in troubleshooting sessions/tutorials |
| Other | 12 hours of student group meetings |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Group case study 2500 word group case study | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Individual case study and report 2500 word individual case study | 30% |
| Semester Assessment | Individual scoping report 2500 word report | 30% |
| Semester Assessment | Individual written review 1500 word review | 20% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Resubmission of individual elements Resubmission of individual elements. Alternative to group case study report (as determined by the examination board). | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an awareness of how biological systems are being harnessed and exploited to improve the food supply chain.
2. Demonstrate an awareness of the technologies driving the securing of our food supplies.
3. Critically evaluate how human intervention and changes in behavior can alleviate problems of food security
4. Demonstrate an ability to communicate science effectively through oral and written media.
Brief description
The module comprises a series of lectures given by experts in a broad range of food security issues.
Content
Improvement in crop production
Plant breeding
Current breeding strategies
Improvements in breeding technologies and strategies (Michael Abberton, Athole Marshall)
Conserving and exploiting natural genetic variation (Ian Thomas)
Introgression from wild relatives (Glyn Jenkins)
Client participation in plant breeding (John Witcombe – Bangor University)
Breeding tolerance to abiotic stress (Mike Humphreys, Catherine Howarth)
Exploiting GM technology, gene flow and risk assessment (Mike Wilkinson)
Production systems
Mineral nutrition of crop plants (Malcolm Leitch)
Crop protection from pests and diseases (Luis Mur, Alison Kingston-Smith)
Reclamation of soils and improvement of agricultural land (John Scullion)
Improvement in animal production
Animal breeding (Basil Wolf)
Production Systems
Animal nutrition (Mike Rose, Mike Lee)
Disease and pest management (Justin Pachebat, Peter Brophy, Karl Hoffmann)
Aquaculture and fish stock management (Bob Wootton, John Fish, Joe Ironside, Sonia Consuegra)
Mitigating environmental effects of food animals (Jamie Newbold)
Changing patterns of food production/consumption
Low input and organic farming systems (Pip Nicholas, Christine Marley)
Climate change and agri-economics (Dylan Gwynn-Jones, Mike Christie)
Biological invasions (Chris Thomas)
Resolving conflicts between bioenergy and food (Iain Donnison, Kerry Farrar)
Food wastage, food miles
Food safety and microbiology (Hazel Davey)
Life style changes and diets (Chris Pollock)
Impact of new technologies
GPS, GIS, agrochemicals, next generation sequencing
Plant breeding
Current breeding strategies
Improvements in breeding technologies and strategies (Michael Abberton, Athole Marshall)
Conserving and exploiting natural genetic variation (Ian Thomas)
Introgression from wild relatives (Glyn Jenkins)
Client participation in plant breeding (John Witcombe – Bangor University)
Breeding tolerance to abiotic stress (Mike Humphreys, Catherine Howarth)
Exploiting GM technology, gene flow and risk assessment (Mike Wilkinson)
Production systems
Mineral nutrition of crop plants (Malcolm Leitch)
Crop protection from pests and diseases (Luis Mur, Alison Kingston-Smith)
Reclamation of soils and improvement of agricultural land (John Scullion)
Improvement in animal production
Animal breeding (Basil Wolf)
Production Systems
Animal nutrition (Mike Rose, Mike Lee)
Disease and pest management (Justin Pachebat, Peter Brophy, Karl Hoffmann)
Aquaculture and fish stock management (Bob Wootton, John Fish, Joe Ironside, Sonia Consuegra)
Mitigating environmental effects of food animals (Jamie Newbold)
Changing patterns of food production/consumption
Low input and organic farming systems (Pip Nicholas, Christine Marley)
Climate change and agri-economics (Dylan Gwynn-Jones, Mike Christie)
Biological invasions (Chris Thomas)
Resolving conflicts between bioenergy and food (Iain Donnison, Kerry Farrar)
Food wastage, food miles
Food safety and microbiology (Hazel Davey)
Life style changes and diets (Chris Pollock)
Impact of new technologies
GPS, GIS, agrochemicals, next generation sequencing
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | |
| Communication | Oral presentation and group work |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Targeted self learning |
| Information Technology | Use of computational resources, modelling etc. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Networking during visits and career pathway planning insight into potential areas of future employment |
| Problem solving | Practical workshops involving case studies |
| Research skills | Research for report and presentation assignments |
| Subject Specific Skills | Understanding of the roles that biology and biotechnology play in the alleviation of food security problems |
| Team work | Group work |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7