Actualités et agenda
Nos formations
Présentation
For quite some time, we observe initiatives that promote structural transitions towards sustainable societies all over the world, among others regarding agriculture, energy, private consumption, as well as other areas. Such transition aims at a long-term sustainable development that aligns environmental and social concerns with economic targets, while acknowledging our planet's boundaries. Fostering this fundamental change is one of the key challenges of our times. At the same time, we see numerous obstacles or conflicting interests (e.g. in food between production and economic development, on the one hand, and public health and environmental protection, on the other). Current food regimes with established institutions and routines, powerful actors or the prevailing short-term orientation are contradicting the aim of sustainable development.
The seminar addresses the question of how to achieve a sustainable food system and discusses the role of sustainable ways of living. This will be done from various perspectives, ranging from individual consumption, certain commodities, sectors, societal practices and the food system as a whole.
The main part of the project seminar is the work on sustainability topics in the food realm selected by the students.
Session 1 – Introduction: The history of sustainable development
Session 2 – Sustainable development and food
Session 3 – Sustainability transformation
Session 4 – Sustainability transformation (2)
Session 5 – Sustainability and democracy
Session 6 – Project work: Topic 1
Session 7 – Project work: Topic 2
Session 8 – Project work: Topic 3
Session 9 – Project work: Topic 4
Session 10 – Project work: Topic 5
Session 11 – Project work: Topic 6
Session 12 – Conclusion: How to achieve sustainable development in the food sector?
Modalités
The organisation of this project course is twofold: The first part is a short theoretical introduction into sustainability key issues: sustainability discourses and policies, and sustainability transformation – and their relation to food. The sessions involve an overview presentation on the session topic, classical text reading and discussion. You are required to read the basic seminar literature in preparation of the sessions. The lecture slides will be uploaded to Moodle.
The second part contains sessions on selected topics in ‘food and sustainable development’. The topics will be selected by the course participants. The main part of the course work will be in form of ‘project work’. The working group is also in charge of the session preparation. The course instructor will support the working groups by any means according to their needs.
Each student is required to participate in one working group. This includes the collective work on the selected topic, session preparation, accomplishment of the session, and a short input paper for the last session. The project work should result in a written course paper.
The grading will be done as follows:
- 40% presentation during session
- 20% session preparation
- 40% written scientific paper
Ressources
Barbier, E.B. (2010). <i>A Global Green New Deal: Rethinking the Economic Recovery.</i> Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.|| Botsman, R./Rogers, R. (2010). <i>What’s Mine Is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption.</i> New York.|| Brand, U. (2012). Green Economy - the Next Oxymoron? <i>GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society</i>, 21(1), pp. 28-32.|| Daly, H. (1996). <i>Beyond Growth: The Economics of Sustainable Development.</i> Washington D.C.|| Elzen, B./Geels, F.W./Green, K. (eds.) (2004). <i>System Innovation and the Transition to Sustainability: Theory, Evidence and Policy</i><i>.</i> Cheltenham.|| Escobar, A. (2011). <i>Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World.</i> Princeton University Press.|| Jackson, T. (2009). <i>Prosperity Without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet.</i> London.|| Jordan, A. (2008). The governance of sustainable development: taking stock and looking forwards. <i>Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy</i> 26(1), pp. 17-33.|| Meadowcroft, J. (2011). Engaging with the politics of sustainability transitions, <i>Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions</i> 1(1) pp. 70-75.|| Meadows, D. et al. (1973). <i>The Limits to Growth¿: A Report for the Club of Rome’s Project on the Predicament of Mankind.</i> New York.|| Muraca, B. (2013). Décroissance: A Project for a Radical Transformation of Society. <i>Environmental Values</i> 22, pp. 147-169.|| Sekulova, F., Kallis, G., Rodríguez-Labajos, B., & Schneider, F. (2013). Degrowth: From theory to practice. <i>Journal of Cleaner Production</i> 38, pp. 1-6.|| Shove, E./Walker, G. (2010). Governing transitions in the sustainability of everyday life. <i>Research Policy</i> 39, pp. 471-476.|| Smith, A. (2007). Translating sustainabilities between green niches and socio-technical regimes. <i>Technology Analysis & Strategic Management</i> 19(4), pp. 427-450.|| WBGU (Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltveränderungen). (2011). <i>World in Transition: A Social Contract for Sustainability</i> (Flagship Report). Berlin.|| WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development) (1987). <i>Our Common Future.</i> Oxford University Press.