Food Systems and Transition

The overall aim of the course is to introduce students to food systems thinking and actors within food systems. The purpose with this approach is to offer understandings and ability to analyse the wickedness and complexity in developments related to food. The course will also provide a basis for thinking in - and handling future changes of food systems.

The course will consist of the following themes

• Food systems and food networks as conceptualizations of the complexity in food related issues (more than production and consumption). 
• The historical development and structure of selected food systems (industrialized and alternative food systems, mainly with departure in systems of Global North). This will include an overview of changing technologies; structure, location, actors as well as salient political issues characterizing food systems in different periods.
• Governance of food systems, including an introduction to the dynamics of policy processes. This also includes questions of the economic power distribution and interests of key actors, as well the role of civic engagement.
• Key concepts and theories useful for understanding, mapping, and analysing the development and transitions of food systems. This includes among other things stakeholder analyses and socio-material approaches (Situational Analysis and Multi-level Perspective) to food systems change.