Course:FRE531
| Global Food and Resource Governance | |
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| FRE 531 | |
| Section: | |
| Instructor: | Dr. Matias E Margulis |
| Email: | matias.margulis@ubc.ca |
| Office: | |
| Office Hours: | TBA |
| Class Schedule: | Jan 8 to Feb 16
Fri 9-12 pm |
| Classroom: | MCML 154 |
| Important Course Pages | |
| Syllabus | |
| Lecture Notes | |
| Assignments | |
| Course Discussion | |
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students taking this course will develop a better understanding of the role of governments, business, civil society and international institutions in global food and resource policy-making. The course is organized around the examination of real-world controversies in global food and resource governance – such as, but not limited, to global food crises, large-scale land acquisitions, and the agriculture negotiations at the World Trade Organization. We will use these cases as the basis to explore how an issue or problem comes to be placed on the international policy agenda, which actors get to participate in the global policy-making process, and why global policy-making efforts succeed or fail. Students who complete this course will develop substantive knowledge of global policy-making around food and resources and be able to assess the efficacy, fairness and legitimacy of, and possible alternatives to, current global policies and governance arrangements.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the role of global public, private and hybrid institutions active in regulating the food and resources sector;
- Identify and assess the preferences of different stakeholders and their capabilities to influence the global food and resources policy;
- Appraise the effectiveness and equity of global policies and regulations designed to respond food and resource problems;
- Analyse and integrate various forms of evidence and data to assess complex global food and resource problems and policies;
- Apply knowledge, skills and understanding in planning and executing research on contemporary problem in global food and resource governance.
ASSESSMENT REPORT
Trade profile of a WTO member states; Analysis of an internationally recognized food or resource sustainably standard; Research paper on a major issue in global food and resource governance; seminar participation.
BIG QUESTIONS & REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS IN CLIMATE, FOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT COVERED IN THE COURSE
- Why is India banning the export of rice? Will this result in a global food crisis?
- Why are global food prices increasing?
- How is US-China economic rivalry affecting international trade in agriculture and food?
- What policies could support a transition to more sustainable food systems?
- How can investors ensure “win-win” agriculture investments in developing countries?
ASSESSMENT METHODS
Your grade shall be determined as follows
| Evaluation | Percent of Grade | Due Date |
| Research activity #1 | 35% | Week 3 |
| Research activity #2 | 25% | Week 4 |
| Short Research Paper | 25% | Week 6 |
| Class participation | 15% | Evaluated during weeks 2-6 |