A Nutritional Approach to Agriculture and Food Security

Posted 3 years 4 months ago by University of Leeds

Study Method : Online
Duration : 2 weeks
Subject : Nature & Environment
Overview
Develop skills to apply and evaluate innovative solutions that place nutrition at the heart of a sustainable food system.
Course Description

Modern agriculture and global food systems have become very complex and do not always provide people with affordable and nutritious food. This course presents current research, which aims to place nutrition at the heart of the food system. With a focus on the Global South, you’ll learn about the components of the food system and their link to nutrition and acquire the skills to implement and evaluate nutrition-sensitive interventions.

Discover nutrition-sensitive food systems and develop nutrition skills

To uncover the benefits of nutrition-sensitive agriculture, you need to understand key concepts in agriculture, food and nutrition research and learn about the role of crops and livestock in a healthy and sustainable diet.

You’ll also acquire nutrition-specific skills used to evaluate food and diets and apply them in course activities. This will help you to design and assess nutrition-sensitive interventions. You’ll then examine research-led material on bio-fortification and other innovative food processing methods to understand how to diversify food production and improve the nutritional value of foods.

Discover how to place nutrition at the heart of the food system

As you conceptualise nutrition in relation to food systems, you’ll evaluate the consequences of nutrition-sensitive interventions and policies on socioeconomic and environmental aspects. You’ll also explore the role of different stakeholders and understand the crucial role of women in driving improvements in nutrition outcomes in households and communities.

Learn from the experts at the University of Leeds

This course is based on research led by experts in agriculture, nutrition and environmental sciences from the University of Leeds, the University of Pretoria and FARNPAN.

This is a skills-focused course designed for individuals with an existing interest in nutrition, sustainability and diet, in a global context. Learners will also learn practical skills that would help them to apply and evaluate nutrition-sensitive interventions in their own field of interest.

Requirements

This is a skills-focused course designed for individuals with an existing interest in nutrition, sustainability and diet, in a global context. Learners will also learn practical skills that would help them to apply and evaluate nutrition-sensitive interventions in their own field of interest.

Career Path
  • Conceptualise nutrition in relation to the rest of the food system
  • Evaluate nutrition-sensitive approaches and how these can increase food and nutrition security with a focus on the Global South
  • Develop skills in dietary assessment, food composition and measures of diet quality and diversity
  • Apply the evaluation skills needed to select and introduce nutrition-sensitive interventions relevant to your own field of work or study
  • Evaluate the consequences of nutrition-sensitive interventions and policies in respect of their social, economic, and environmental impacts.
  • Assess the role of women in promoting nutrition-sensitive interventions