By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Understand the fundamentals of food security, including its dimensions, drivers, and measurement approaches.
Apply conceptual frameworks for analyzing food security and agricultural development at both micro and macro levels.
Identify and use key data sources and information systems for monitoring and assessing food security.
Interpret and construct indicators to monitor food insecurity and evaluate policy interventions.
Analyze the evolution of food security policies and approaches over time and across regions.
Evaluate the role and effectiveness of food aid and assistance programs in addressing food insecurity.
Examine agricultural markets and price dynamics, understanding how market structures, trade, and policy instruments influence food availability and farmers’ livelihoods.
Apply economic and quantitative tools to assess agricultural and food policy impacts using real-world data.
Engage in student challenges and case studies that simulate real policy and market scenarios, enhancing practical problem-solving and teamwork skills.
Prerequisiti
Nessun prerequisito è necessario
Metodi didattici
The course adopts a blended teaching approach that integrates lectures, applied exercises, and experiential learning.
Lectures provide the theoretical and conceptual foundations of food security, agricultural development, and market analysis.
Practical sessions involve the use of real-world data and quantitative tools for policy and market analysis, encouraging students to apply concepts to empirical cases.
Student challenges and case studies expose participants to real policy and market scenarios, fostering teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
Seminars and guided discussions are used to review contemporary issues, research papers, and policy debates in food economics.
Independent and group assignments allow students to deepen their understanding and develop analytical and communication skills.
Overall, the teaching methods aim to create a dynamic, participatory, and evidence-based learning environment, bridging theory and practice in agricultural and food policy analysis.
Verifica Apprendimento
Written exam
Testi
Material provided by the instructor
Contenuti
The course provides a comprehensive overview of the economic and policy dimensions of food security and agricultural development. It combines conceptual foundations, analytical tools, and practical applications through real-world case studies and student challenges.
1. Food Security Foundations
Definition, dimensions, and determinants of food security
The link between food security, poverty, and development
2. Conceptual Frameworks for Food Security Analysis
Analytical approaches and models for understanding food insecurity
The role of households, markets, and institutions
3. Food Security Information Systems and Data Sources
National and international food security databases
Methods for data collection, management, and interpretation
4. Indicators for Monitoring Food Insecurity
Construction and interpretation of food security indicators
Measuring availability, access, utilization, and stability
5. Historical Perspectives on Food Security
Evolution of global and national food security policies
Lessons from past crises and policy responses
6. Food Aid and Assistance Programs
Policy rationale, mechanisms, and effectiveness
Transition from food aid to resilience and development support
7. Agricultural Markets and Price Analysis
Market structures, price formation, and volatility
Trade, subsidies, and market integration in developing economies
Policy instruments and their impacts on producers and consumers
8. Applied Learning: Student Challenges and Case Studies
Group-based projects addressing real-world policy or market problems
Application of analytical tools to actual datasets
Presentation and discussion of policy recommendations